A man was shot and killed Monday afternoon in a residential area of Bogotá, Colombia, by assailants on a motorcycle. The incident occurred in the Salitre Occidental neighborhood, a typically quiet area of the capital city.
The profile of the victim
The victim has been identified as Néstor Harry Acosta Leal, according to reports from El Tiempo. Acosta Leal was a professional with more than 20 years of experience at the Bogotá Water and Sewer Company.
He had lived in the Salitre neighborhood for nearly two decades and owned three apartments in the area, located near the site of the shooting.
Witnesses told El Tiempo that Acosta Leal arrived at the location approximately 10 minutes before the attack. The assailants approached him and spoke briefly before opening fire.
“One of the sicarios spoke with him and when the man turned back to the sidewalk, the assailant shot him twice,” a witness told the news outlet and authorities. The witness added that Acosta Leal had lived in the neighborhood for 20 years without known conflicts.
After the shooting, the attackers fled the scene on the motorcycle. As of Tuesday, March 17, 2026, police have not reported any arrests.
The investigations are in course
Forensic teams and the Bogotá Metropolitan Police are investigating the shooting, collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses. The case highlights a concerning trend of targeted killings in the capital city.
Investigators are reviewing Acosta Leal’s recent movements to determine if he was lured to the location under false pretenses or if the shooting was part of his daily routine.
“The officer was helping him, helping him, he was alive for about 10, 12 minutes and then he died. The ambulance never arrived,” another witness told Blu Radio , describing the final moments of the victim’s life.
