In Guatemala, a Member of Parliament, Julio César Portillo Paz, and three officers of the National Civil Police were killed in an armed attack. The attack took place on 6 November in the department of Sacapa in the east of the country. Law enforcement officers attempted to protect the politician from the armed assailants but were killed in the ensuing shootout. President Bernardo Arévalo condemned the killing and instructed the security forces to identify those responsible.
- In Guatemala, armed assailants killed Julio César Portillo Pasa, a member of parliament.
- Three police officers were killed whilst trying to protect a Member of Parliament during the attack.
- The injured MP was taken to hospital, where he later died.
- President Bernardo Arevalo has ordered that the attackers be identified and brought to justice.
- The motives behind the crime remain unknown, and no suspects have yet been officially named.
Armed assailants attacked a MP’s car
The attack took place near the village of Río Ondo on a road in the department of Sacapa. According to the Guatemalan Ministry of the Interior, unidentified assailants opened fire on a member of parliament Julio César Portillo Pasu.
The police officers providing security for the MP became involved in an armed confrontation with the attackers. Three police officers were killed in the shooting. Among them was a police officer assigned to provide personal protection for the MP.
Portillo himself was seriously injured. He was taken to hospital, where doctors tried to save his life. The UNE political party later confirmed the MP’s death.
Portillo represented the department of Sacapa in the Guatemalan Congress. He was elected to parliament for the 2024–2028 term. He initially represented the Cabal party, but later joined the UNE.
The President of Guatemala has ordered an investigation into the murder
President Bernardo Arevalo He publicly condemned the attack and expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. He emphasised that the police officers were killed whilst on duty, whilst attempting to protect the MP’s life.
The Head of State instructed the security forces to cooperate fully with the public prosecutor’s office, to establish the circumstances of the shooting and to identify those involved. The leadership of Congress also issued a statement regarding the murder, calling for a prompt, transparent and impartial investigation.
As of 7 November, the police had not named any suspects nor disclosed the motives behind the attack. It has not been officially established whether the murder was linked to Portillo’s political activities.
The second high-profile murder in a matter of weeks
The attack took place approximately three weeks after the murder of the former anti-corruption prosecutor Juan Francisco Solorsano Foppi, who was shot dead in the Guatemalan capital. Two high-profile crimes have heightened concerns about the activities of organised crime groups and the safety of public figures.
The Sakapa district, where the MP was killed, has long been regarded as one of the routes used for cross-border drug trafficking. In September, another armed clash took place there, resulting in the deaths of eight people.
At the same time, investigators have not established a link between the attack on Portillo, the murder of the former prosecutor and the activities of the drug cartels. No one has yet officially claimed responsibility for the attack on 6 November.
