Vigilante Justice in Mingueo: Mob Attacks and Kills Man Who Killed a Minor
Outrage in La Guajira over the discovery of Shelsy Navarro's body and the lynching of the alleged perpetrator, a minor
The village of Mingueo, in the municipality of Dibulla (La Guajira), is experiencing profound sadness and outrage after the discovery of the body of three-year-old Shelsy Michel Navarro Ojeda, who had been reported missing on the afternoon of December 10, 2025.
The girl was playing near her home when, according to her mother, Liliana Ojeda Domínguez, she disappeared without a trace. Upon noticing her absence, the family and neighbors began an intense search that stretched into the late hours of the night and, tragically, ended with the discovery of the little girl's body in an area near the house.
“We were playing, and suddenly she ran out while her father and I were there. When I asked about the girl, she was gone. We started looking for her with her father, but she didn't turn up; that's when it all began,” the mother recounted in an interview with Blu Radio.
During a search of a nearby house, owned by relatives, the family found items that—according to Ojeda Domínguez—could be related to the alleged perpetrator, which increased suspicion and tension in the area.
Accusations and collective fury
The situation escalated on the afternoon of December 11, when word spread among the residents that the alleged perpetrator of the homicide had been identified: a young man between 16 and 17 years old, supposedly a foreigner, whose confession circulated in a video recorded by the community.
Collective outrage led to a case of vigilante justice. According to regional media reports, the young man was attacked, tortured, and ultimately beheaded before authorities could formally arrest him. His body was found naked with a message written on his abdomen, while his head was found a few meters away, perched on a tree trunk.
Authorities have not yet officially clarified the circumstances of this incident, nor have they confirmed whether the lynched young man is the suspect mentioned in a previous statement.
Official Reactions
The governor of La Guajira, Jairo Aguilar, expressed his deep concern about what happened and condemned both the murder of the girl and the subsequent lynching:
“Nothing justifies such an atrocious act, which wounds a family and shakes our entire department.”
He also urged the relevant authorities to act swiftly to clarify the case and ensure justice within the legal framework:
“The lives of our children are sacred and must be protected without exception. We stand with the family in this moment of immense grief and reiterate our unwavering commitment to defending the children of La Guajira.”
For its part, the La Guajira Police Department reminded the public that a reward of 50 million pesos remains in effect for information leading to the capture of the alleged perpetrator. The department did not provide further details about the person detained by the community or what subsequently happened to this individual.