Far-left Colombian President Gustavo Petro acknowledged Monday that the 14-year-old boy who shot conservative Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay was previously enrolled in his administration's "Youth in Peace" social program. The shocking revelation adds a controversial dimension to Saturday's assassination attempt that left the vocal government critic fighting for his life.
According to Breitbart, President Petro admitted the troubled teen was identified by the district government and subsequently transferred to the administration's program. The young assailant, reportedly named Juan Sebastián Rodríguez Casallas, shot Senator Uribe three times during a presidential campaign event in Bogotá.
The attack left Uribe with two gunshot wounds to the skull and one to his left leg. As of Tuesday morning, the senator—a potential presidential candidate for the right-wing Democratic Center party in 2026—remains in critical but stable condition, showing "little medical response" to emergency medical procedures.
President Petro described the young assailant's brief participation in the "Youth in Peace" program in a post on his official Twitter account. The program is part of his administration's broader "Total Peace" plan, which aims to reduce violent crime through negotiation with criminal organizations and social rehabilitation.
"There, according to the report I have from the professionals, he demonstrated a completely troubled personality, with no ability to form interpersonal bonds," Petro stated about the teen. "He lasted two months, did not attend any classes, and voluntarily withdrew."
The "Youth in Peace" program, launched in January 2023, provides money stipends and education to impoverished Colombian youth, aiming to transform them into "peace managers" who can mediate conflicts in their communities. However, reports published in May indicated the program faced significant "operational and administrative difficulties" after a review by Colombia's Equality Ministry revealed numerous implementation irregularities.
The 14-year-old suspect reportedly shouted, "I did it for money, for my family!" when authorities apprehended him after the attack. Officials have maintained strict confidentiality regarding his identity in accordance with Colombian law, but international outlets have published his name.
Astrid Cáceres Cárdenas, head of the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare (ICBF), told reporters Monday that the minor is cooperating with authorities. "He is in full collaboration, and also in an attitude of assuming responsibilities," Cáceres Cárdenas said, adding that special protection measures have been implemented for his safety.
El Colombiano reported Tuesday that a man identifying himself as the child's uncle revealed the boy's difficult family situation. The man stated the minor's father is in Poland and his mother died when she was 23, leaving the boy to live with an aunt in Bogotá's Engativá district. "The young man is immersed in such a family uprooting that it seems he was easy prey for the criminals who instrumentalized him," the newspaper wrote.
The firearm used in the attack has raised additional questions about how it reached the young assailant's hands. Investigations have revealed a concerning international dimension to the case.
Sources linked to the investigation told El Tiempo that the weapon had been purchased at an Arizona sporting goods store in August 2020 by a man identified as Charles Joe Anderson. How the firearm traveled from the United States to Colombia remains unclear.
Ballistic studies confirmed the weapon is not registered with Colombia's Department of Arms, Ammunition and Explosives Control, and Commerce. This revelation has prompted authorities to expand their investigation beyond the young shooter to identify potential accomplices who may have supplied the weapon.
Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay remains hospitalized in critical condition as doctors at the Santa Fe Foundation of Bogotá continue their efforts to save his life. The senator, known for his vocal criticism of President Petro's government, was campaigning as a potential presidential candidate when the attack occurred.
Under Colombian law, the 14-year-old suspect must face two separate judicial procedures—an administrative process with a public defender and another with a family defender. The Ombudsman's Office and Attorney General's Office are supervising these proceedings.
The attempted assassination highlights growing political tensions in Colombia as the country approaches the 2026 presidential elections. It also raises serious questions about the effectiveness of Petro's "Total Peace" initiatives, which Interior Minister Armando Benedetti admitted in April "has not turned out well."
