1 cop killed as a gunman assassinates a patrolman in Timbiquí, Colombia

A Colombian National Police patrolman was fatally shot early Sunday morning in an attack on the police station in the Pacific coast municipality of Timbiquí, in the department of Cauca.

Patrolman José David Ahumada Mendoza, born in 1998, was killed around 1:30 a.m. while on duty guarding the entrance to the police station in the urban area of Timbiquí. According to the National Police and local reports, an armed individual approached the officer and opened fire, striking him in the head. Colleagues provided first aid, but Ahumada Mendoza died from his wounds. The attacker fled the scene.

In an official statement, the Policía Nacional expressed deep sorrow over the “cowardly attack” that claimed the life of their colleague. “We accompany with respect and solidarity his family, friends, and comrades. His dedication and sacrifice will remain in the memory of our Institution and of the country he served until the last moment,” the force said. It added that all available resources have been deployed to capture and bring the perpetrator to justice.

Authorities are investigating the incident under the hypothesis of a possible “plan pistola” (targeted shooting of security force members), though this remains unconfirmed as an official conclusion. Community representatives described the assailant as approaching stealthily before firing and escaping. The officer’s body is being transferred to Popayán for further procedures.

The attack occurs amid ongoing security challenges in the Cauca Pacific region, where armed groups compete for territorial control and tensions between public forces and illegal actors remain high. Police and military personnel in the area have been operating under heightened alert.

The National Police and other institutions, including CREMIL, have issued messages of condolence, emphasizing that the responsible parties will face justice. No arrests have been reported as of Sunday evening.