Police officer murdered his ex-partner at her workplace and then took his own life
The officer had a history of domestic violence. The incident was captured on the business's security cameras
A new and unfortunate case of femicide shocked the residents of southern Bogotá on the night of Monday, April 22. A 26-year-old woman, identified as Yesica Paola Chávez Bocanegra, was murdered inside a hair salon in the Quintas del Sur neighborhood of Ciudad Bolívar by her ex-partner, an active member of the Colombian National Police.
The assailant, Andrés Julián Mesa Ramírez, 36, arrived at the establishment in civilian clothes but wearing a police helmet. Without saying a word, he pulled out a firearm he had hidden in his clothing and shot the young woman at least nine times, killing her instantly.
Then, before the astonished gaze of clients, coworkers, and even minors present, the officer shot himself. He was taken to the Meissen hospital with vital signs, but died hours later.
The hair salon's security cameras captured the agonizing moments of the crime. The images show the man walking slowly to locate the victim, drawing his weapon, and firing it repeatedly while everyone present fled in terror. The video is now a key piece in the investigation.
According to initial reports and documents available to authorities, the attacker had a history of domestic violence, with records filed on June 3, 2019, and June 20, 2024.
The crime is presumed to have been motivated by the young woman's refusal to continue living with him, due to previous episodes of physical and verbal abuse.
Lieutenant Colonel Jhon Fernando Díaz, operational commander of Citizen Security Unit No. 2, confirmed that the police were alerted after hearing gunshots in the residential area. "The attacker, using a firearm that he owned, took this woman's life and subsequently injured himself. He was taken to a medical center where he died," the officer reported.
The Bogotá Metropolitan Police expressed solidarity with the victim's family and condemned the crime committed by one of its own members: "We condemn any act that affects the life and integrity of our women," they said in a statement.