An American was stabbed to death and a second person was injured during a fight in a Medellín apartment, police confirmed.
Josue Cardona, 34, a Los Angeles native, suffered multiple stab wounds Saturday and was pronounced dead at the scene.
A police report obtained by Colombian outlet El Colombiano indicated that Cardona was attacked by one of the suspects after he asked him to have sex.
The suspect stabbed Cardona with a kitchen knife and then stabbed Osneyver Vega, 25, in the shoulder and back after he tried to defend Cardona from the assailant.
Vega, a Venezuelan national, was found lying at the entrance of the house and was rushed to a local medical center.
The two suspects, Andrey Gómez, 23, and Ajhal Mesa, 20, were chased by security guards and detained several blocks away by police, who recovered the weapon allegedly used in the attack.
Two suspects were arrested on Saturday, moments after one of them stabbed American citizen Josué Cardona to death and injured Rafael Vega, originally from Venezuela, during a fight in an apartment in Medellín, Colombia.
Building security guards chased the suspects after one of them killed Cardona, Medellín police said.
Gómez and Mesa’s clothes were stained with blood at the time of their arrest.
‘One of them injured a citizen with a sharp weapon, causing wounds that caused his death,’ Medellín police lieutenant colonel Eder Sánchez said in a statement.
Local media have reported that Cardona and Vega were in a relationship.
El Colombiano reported that Cardona has lived in Medellín for several years and that his parents also reside there.
Cardona is the 13th foreigner who has died in Medellín in the first two months of 2024 after 30 deaths were reported throughout 2023.
Medellín police escort two suspects linked to the murder of Cardona, who was stabbed to death in an apartment on Saturday
Cardona is the 13th foreigner who has died in Medellín in the first two months of 2024 after 30 deaths were reported throughout 2023
Three Americans were found dead in their hotel or Airbnb apartments within a five-day span earlier this month.
Dakarai Cobb, 47, was found dead in his rented home on February 5. His cell phone, credit cards and passport were reported missing.
Anthony Lopez, 29, was found dead in his room on Feb. 4, a day after he was seen entering the building with two women.
Manly Conley, 37, died on February 4 after falling from the balcony of her 17th-floor Airbnb rental apartment.
Cardona’s death came just two days after the US State Department issued a travel advisory, warning American travelers about insecurity in the South American nation, especially in Bogotá, the capital.
“The U.S. Embassy reminds U.S. citizens of the continuing threat of crime throughout Colombia,” the embassy said. ‘Recently, there have been robberies carried out by armed individuals in popular restaurants, cafes and breweries in Bogotá, frequented by tourists and the expatriate community.
“American citizens must remain vigilant, maintain heightened situational awareness, and incorporate strong personal safety practices into their daily activities.”
The warning instructed American citizens to “maintain composure” in the event of a shooting and to “adopt a prone position on the ground and actively seek cover or concealment.”
‘American citizens should always be alert to the possibility that criminal organizations and terrorist groups may carry out attacks with little or no warning, targeting transportation hubs, markets/malls, local government facilities, police stations, facilities military, hotels, clubs, restaurants, “Airports, other public areas, and United States government facilities,” the warning said. “While terrorists have not specifically targeted U.S. citizens, the attacks could result in unintended casualties.”