Colombia is a country where acts of violence are part of the daily news. However, the recent case of Jack Ramirez Comas, a 23-year-old mechanical engineer who was fatally shot in the head during a street mugging, has left the community shocked and clamoring for justice. The university student was commemorated by his university in a recent viral tweet.
As can be seen by surveillance camera footage, hree thieves bump into the car just enough to draw Jack out of the car, but not enough to damage the red vehicle which they presumably wanted to be sold for parts.
How The Crime Unfolded
On the night of November 1, Jack and his girlfriend were parked in the Las Mercedes neighborhood when their car was struck from behind by another vehicle. As Jack got out to inspect the damage, two men approached and one of them shot him in the head before fleeing the scene with his car.
Jack’s death has sparked community outrage and a call for justice. Apparently, local authorities have recovered the stolen vehicle, having found it driven around Barranquilla with altered plates. The authorities have opened a forensic investigation and offered reward of up to 50 million pesos has been offered for information leading to the identification and capture of the criminals.
Colombia has long struggled with street robberies, and many incidents end in violence. However, the death of Jack Ramirez Comas has ignited a clamor for stricter security measures and harsher punishments for criminals. Barranquilla residents are no longer willing to accept such heinous crimes as a normal part of everyday life.
Barranquilla Crime Riddled
The murder of Jack Ramirez Comas is a tragic reminder of the high impact of car theft in Barranquilla. According to figures from the Metropolitan Police, 372 cases of car theft have been reported this year in Barranquilla and the surrounding metropolitan area. Surprisingly, only 35% of these stolen vehicles have been recovered and returned to their rightful owners. This means that most of the victims have not only lost their means of transportation, but also their sense of security.
Compared to last year, 379 vehicles were stolen in the city. This means that this year that figure will be exceeded, considering that there are still two months left to the end of the year.
It is time for the authorities to take action and make the streets safer for everyone. The people of Barranquilla demand justice for Jack Ramirez Comas and an end to the violence that plagues their city. It is time for change, and it is time for the government to act.
With information from Vanguardia, Caracol Radio and El Heraldo