A priest and university chaplain died of seven stab wounds as thieves tried to steal his cell phone in the west of Bogota, Thursday evening, local media reported.
Father Gustavo Garcia, chaplain at Minuto de Dios University, was stabbed by thieves as he waited with another priest for a bus near the footbridge at the corner of Calle 26 and Carrera and 68, 5PM Thursday. He was taken to hospital by police but died shortly after arrival.
Commander of the Metropolitan Police of Bogota, Francisco Patiño said that they are offering a reward of up to $11,000 for information that leads to the capture of the perpetrators of this crime.
Father Guillermo de Jesus, a fellow priest of the religious NGO Minuto de Dios said “He tried to shield himself and received cuts to his hands and arms. When he arrived at the hospital there was nothing they could do.”
Father Garcia, aged 34 was the leader of a resocialization group and had a show on a local radio station.
Juan Carlos Almonacid, Mayor of Bogota municipality Teusaquillo asked the construction company Transvial which is carrying out building works in the locality, to light the area around Carrera 68 and Calle 26, reported Caracol Radio. He also called on the public not to get off public transport “in these dark areas.” The murder occurred in the same place that a courier company employee was killed last week.