Breaking: Israeli Shot Dead in El Poblado, Medellin

The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Shay Pesso. Here’s what we so far know & my commentary on the case.

By Kaveh Paymayesh

What we know so far

On 29/11/2021, a 30-year-old Israeli male, Shay Pesso was shot dead at night in the neighbourhood of El Poblado.

The victim, who was driving a high-end truck, was pursued by two criminals on a bike.

The Israeli, unsuspecting of his fate, was waiting in his parked car in front of a Chabad Centre when the two delinquents appeared. Seemingly without hesitation, two shots were fired at the victim before fleeing the scene.

This left the young man with injuries that he would later succumb to in hospital.

Motives for the homicide remain unclear, as do the identity of the assailants.

What we do know is that the bike used in the crime was abandoned just a few metres away from the scene of the crime. It appears that the two delinquents faced issues with their transit when fleeing the scene.

The victim has been identified as a successful businessman, even operating a dental clinic within the city. Pesso was also a resident of Panama.

My commentary

First and foremost, I want to send my condolences to those that knew and loved this individual, who was just 30-years-old.

It’s always disconcerting to hear of a homicide in the city, especially when the motives remain unclear.

Given that the victim was a foreigner, this news is likely to galvanize the ex-pat community, which are generally very receptive to such headlines.

Furthermore, the fact that this has occurred in Poblado; supposedly the most secure and expat-friendly neighbourhood, only adds to the shock factor of this story.

shot dead in Poblado Medellin

The Israeli was shot dead in a place that we all recognize as one of the safest places in Medellin; between Lleras and Parque Poblado, this area is known for its firm police presence. This is literally a stone throw away from the famous Toucan Spanish School. It’s not a part of Medellin where you’d expect somebody to be shot dead. Although, in Colombia, expect the unexpected.

It just goes to show how brazen these killers are. Despite the implementation of CCTV and rapid response units, these guys are not deterred.

Digging a bit deeper though, I found that this is not the only case of Israeli nationals being killed in Medellin.

In February this year, a 34-year-old Israeli was shot dead, after receiving two blank-range shots to the head. It was later concluded that the killing was premeditated; an act of revenge for providing too much information to the authorities.

The victim was affiliated with Israeli criminals operating in Colombia. It turns out that there is a sizeable Israeli criminal ring in Colombia –  they have a strong hand in the country, dealing in illegal activities such as drug smuggling.

In 2016, a 37-year-old Israeli was shot dead whilst riding his motorbike in Laureles. Upon investigation, they found that he was involved within the underbelly of the city, promoting both prostitution and drug use.

Sadly, life is very cheap for those that dive into these nefarious activities.

Of the many Israelis that visit Colombia, the majority do so respectfully, and without a problem. Unfortunately, there is a large minority that does not…

Such is the scale of misconduct that the Israeli embassy in Bogota pled for visitors to conduct themselves appropriately. There are many that come to Colombia with little regard for the law, nor the criminal underworld. 

In turn, things like this happen, quite a lot it seems. 

In conclusion: Keep peeled for emerging details. It’s always sad to see this happen. I would not be surprised if this individual flew a little bit too close to the sun, just like the fellow compatriates that fell before him.

I’m reluctant to the notion that this was an unprovoked attack. Data indicates that homicides against foreigners are very low unless they are involved in risky sectors.

Regardless,

R.I.P Shay Pesso.

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