• Source:JND
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In a sudden and tragic event that has sparked outrage on social media, 22-year-old Colombian influencer Maria Jose Estupinan Sanchez was assassinated at point-blank range outside her residence in the city of Cucuta. As per the reports by Colombian news channel Noticias Caracol, the attacker went disguised as a deliveryman, presenting himself as someone delivering a gift, before grabbing a gun and shooting Sanchez in the La Riviera district. The attack happened at approximately 1:00 pm and was recorded by an adjacent security camera. The assailant, who was wearing a black cap, jacket, jeans, and a backpack and was seen from behind as he ran, escaped on foot seconds after the shooting. Sanchez was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she died.

Maria Jose Estupinan Sanchez: Who Was She?

Maria Jose Estupinan Sanchez was a seventh-semester student of Social Communication at the University of Pamplona and an active social media content creator. Her posts often included her work as a model and elements from her university life. The young influencer had recently won a domestic violence lawsuit against her ex-boyfriend, resulting in a court-ordered compensation of 30 million Colombian Pesos (approximately USD 7,000). Authorities are now investigating whether her legal victory might have been a motive behind the fatal attack.

Ex-Boyfriend Identified As Main Suspect

While no one has been arrested, the authorities have initiated a manhunt to find the suspect who was captured in the CCTV video. The former boyfriend is being treated as a prime suspect, local media reported, although the police have yet to confirm officially a motive. Colonel Leonardo Capacho, District One commander of the Cucuta Metropolitan Police, confirmed that they are investigating and called on citizens to help with any information they may have that can lead to the arrest of the suspect.

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Sanchez's killing follows just days after another Latin American social media influencer, 23-year-old Mexican Valeria Márquez, was gunned down to death while live streaming on TikTok. Marquez, who had a fashion and beauty-themed content, was shot dead while live-streaming at her salon. That incident also, had involved a man who pretended to be a delivery agent. Magda Victoria Acosta, head of the National Gender Commission of the Judicial Branch, denounced Sanchez's murder at a recent forum in Cccuta. "This is a heartbreaking loss which shows the increasing violence faced by women, both online and offline," she stated. Twitter users have also mourned and protested, demanding speedy justice and better protection for women and content creators on the internet.

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