A Medellin volunteer of the YMCA has been assassinated in his home, the international youth organization announced Tuesday.
The YMCA volunteer and rapper “El Duke,” a member of the hip hop group Comando Elite de Ataque, was shot down by gunmen in an area know as Comuna 13 in the west of the city.
“Another victim lost to this senseless violence. another life that our movement, the hip hop scene in the Comuna 13, the community and this planet loses,” the local YMCA branch said in a press release.
Fellow rapper Jeico noted “the Duke always turned to music and singing rap, father of two children, was part of the hip hop group The Elite, and excelled in promoting coexistence in Comuna 13.”
Another local artist Carlos Sanchez tweeted just after “why can’t we die of old age in our neighborhoods, why do they have to kill us?”
Por no podemos morir de viejos en nuestros barrios, porque nos tienen que matan? @dukehiphop
— carlos sanchez (@nenesonbata) October 30, 2012
A spokesperson for the Toronto YMCA, that has worked closely with the Medellin branch of the youth organization, told Colombia Reports “it is for us a sad time and we join our partner at this moment, but we also admire them even more at this time because — despite all the violence they have been facing — they continue to fight for life as the only option in this conflict.”