Flor Alba Núñez Vargas
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Flor Alba Nunez Vargas | |
|---|---|
| Born | ca. 1990 Colombia |
| Died | 10 September 2015 Pitalito, Huila, Colombia |
| Cause of death | Gun shot to the head |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Employer | La Perferida FM |
| Known for | Journalism and for her reports on crime and drug trafficking |
| Title | Broadcast radio & TV journalist |
Flor Alba Núñez Vargas (ca. 1990 – 10 September 2015), a Colombian journalist with La Preferida Estero radio station and several TV stations, was murdered in Pitalito, Huila Department, Colombia, where she received death threats before her murder.[1]
Núñez was well-known as local radio host for her daily news program "Red Noticias" with La Perferida Estero station in Pitalito.[2]
She also worked for the local Pitalito Channel 6, Nación TV out of Neiva and La Nación newspaper.[2] She had received death threats throughout her career, and one of the most notable was in 2015 after she reported on an animal abuse incident.[1] Before her murder, she had posted several controversial reports on her social media accounts including comments from a Catholic bishop on corruption and images of a local gang.[2]
Death
Flor Alba Núñez Vargas was murdered around noon on 10 September 2015.[1][3][4] She was shot in the back of the head while unlocking the door to the radio station she worked at in Pitalito, Colombia. The murder was caught by a surveillance camera.[citation needed]
The government offered a reward for information regarding the murder.[5][6] The reward offered was 55 million peso, which is equivalent to about $18,000.[7]
The gunman was identified as Juan Camilo Ortiz, who was arrested on 26 September 2015, in Palmiros.[2] Ortiz was already a known criminal with a history of trouble before the murder of Núñez. He had been accused of attempted murder before, and he previously served over two years in prison for illegally possessing firearms.[2] He was found guilty on 11 August 2017, and received the sentence of 47 years and 6 months.[4][1][8][9] Jaumeth Albeiro Flórez (a.k.a. Chory) was identified as the motorcycle driver.[4][2][1]
Context
Núñez was known for her reporting about arrests and drug traffickers.[2] She received threats over some of her coverage, although she never officially reported any threats.[2]
According to Fundación para la Libertad de Prensa, there are three main speculations as to why Núñez was murdered.[3] The first speculation involves coverage over a recent gang robbery. Núñez received death threats for this coverage.[3] The second possible reason for the murder revolves around her local election coverage, which also produced threats.[3] The third reason involves pictures and an interview of men who hanged a dog after it attacked them.[2][3]
Impact
In 2015, the Foundation for Press Freedom reported an increase in attacks numbering 150, which amounted to the largest number of attacks in 6 years, and over 70 journalists experienced threats.[10]
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Flor Alba Núñez Vargas was the third journalist, along with Luis Carlos Peralta Cuellar and Edgar Quintero, all killed in Colombia in 2015.[3]