Grisly video shows the moment a former police officer was executed by getting shot to his death at the Colombia-Venezuela border.
“In a grim turn of events, the life of 26-year-old Charly Zambrano, a former officer of the Bolivarian National Police (PNB), was brutally cut short. His journey for a new beginning ended on a desolate trail, marking a violent intersection of crime and desperation on the Colombia-Venezuela border. Zambrano, who had recently taken leave from the Public Order division with hopes of leaving his homeland, became a victim of the very violence he once vowed to fight against. His murderers, capturing their heinous act on Zambrano’s phone, brazenly broadcast the tragedy, spreading fear and outrage through the very ranks he belonged to.
Zambrano’s endeavor to cross into Colombia through the perilous trails connecting the state of Táchira with Cúcuta was met with a tragic end. It was on these shadowed paths, often frequented by gang members, that Zambrano encountered his assailants. The robbers, upon discovering his police affiliation through an examination of his phone, chose not to simply rob but to execute him. The cold, calculated nature of this act, recorded and disseminated amongst police groups on WhatsApp, highlights a chilling disregard for human life and an intent to instill terror.
The aftermath of the crime saw Colombian authorities alerted to the San José neighborhood of Villa del Rosario, following reports of gunfire and sightings of three individuals making a swift escape on motorcycles. It was here, amidst the quiet despair of this community, that Zambrano’s body was found, confirming the worst fears. The ongoing investigation, led by police teams, forensics, and the Civil Police, aims not only to bring Zambrano’s killers to justice but also to shed light on the dangerous dynamics at play along the border. Táchira’s governor, Freddy Bernal, has since emphasized the risks associated with illegal border crossings and urged travelers to opt for safer, regulated routes.”