Colombia’s former president in Ukraine to urge global...
Medellin’s violent crime statistics drop significantly
Colombia’s unprecedented police purge causes controversy
Gustavo Petro
Francia Marquez
Colombia suspends ‘most important project of this century’
How to end the war in western Colombia?
Colombia’s government talks peace with ELN in Cuba
Colombia and Venezuela reestablish diplomatic ties
How to keep Venezuela’s diaspora in Colombia safe?
  • About
  • Support
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
Colombia News | Colombia Reports
  • News
    • General
    • Analysis
    • War and peace
    • Elections
    • Economy
    • Culture
    • Sports
    • Science and Tech
  • Travel
    • General
    • Bogota
    • Medellin
    • Cali
    • Cartagena
    • Antioquia
    • Caribbean
    • Pacific
    • Coffee region
    • Amazon
    • Southwest Colombia
    • Northeast Colombia
    • Central Colombia
  • Data
    • Economy
    • Crime and security
    • War and peace
    • Development
    • Cities
    • Regions
    • Provinces
  • Profiles
    • Organized crime
    • Politics
    • Armed conflict
    • Economy
    • Sports
  • Lite
  • Opinion
News

US tourist killed in Medellin hostel robbery

by Arron Daugherty April 26, 2012

Medellin

A U.S. tourist was killed Wednesday in a robbery in a hostel in Colombia’s second largest city, Medellin.

It’s believed 58-year-old Denis Ian Levy was shot dead in El Tamarindo hostel in the city’s El Poblado district shortly after midnight Wednesday.

According to Colombian newspaper El Colombiano, two women and one man entered a hostel located near the corner of Calle 7 and Carrera 35, and registered as guests shortly after midnight.

Medellin Police Commander Yesid Vasquez told the paper, “they searched the tourist’s room […] they asked him to open a box in which they found 20,000 pesos ($11.36) and that’s when the problem started.”

A struggle followed during which Levy was fatally shot and the suspects fled with Levy’s valuables.

An anonymous source told Colombia Reports that the assailants did not register with the hostel and that the hostel’s receptionist went upstairs to look for more money because the hostel only had 20,000 pesos in its lock box.

According to the source, Levy was using a computer in the reception area when the assailants asked for his wristwatch. He resisted, began to scream, and was fatally shot.

Marco Durango of nearby hostal Casa Kiwi told Colombia Reports, “I was working that night, we’re just around the corner from Tamarindo. I saw a lot of commotion and police everywhere.”

A city official told El Colombiano, “We need more control and police presence because [El Pobaldo] is the highlight of Medellin and what happens here affects the city on an international level.”

Last year a British tourist was killed in an attempted robbery in Medellin’s Belen district, which is near El Poblado.

Medellin’s image has improved since the heyday of drug-related violence and the reign of drug lord Pablo Escobar, but security remains an issue.

Medellintourism

Trending

  • Colombia suspends ‘most important project of this century’

  • Colombia’s new government proposes tax reform to finance ambitious agenda

  • Colombia’s largest paramilitary group announces unilateral ceasefire

Related articles

  • Medellin’s violent crime statistics drop significantly

  • Crime and security in Medellin

  • Medellin’s secret history of violence against women and girls

  • RSS

@2008-2019 - Colombia Reports. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by Digitale Zaken and Parrolabs


Back To Top