What seemed like a regular political rally in Bogotá quickly turned into a nightmare when a teenager pulled a gun and fired at a Colombian senator.
But what makes this story even more disturbing is where the gun came from: thousands of miles away in Arizona.
Now, investigators from both Colombia and the United States are scrambling to understand how a firearm purchased in the U.S. ended up in the hands of a 15-year-old attempting political assassination in South America.
Teen Gunman Targets Colombian Senator
During a campaign speech in Bogotá’s Fontibón neighborhood, Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay was addressing a crowd of about 250 people.
He had just begun talking about plans to improve mental health services when gunfire rang out.
The shooter, 15-year-old Juan Sebastián Rodríguez Casallas, fired several times, striking the senator in the back of the head before fleeing the scene.
Surveillance cameras captured Rodríguez Casallas bolting from the park while security agents chased him down.
Another video showed him limping near a gated complex and pointing his weapon at nearby guards.
Tracing the Gun Back to Arizona
According to Colombian news outlet El Tiempo, law enforcement sources confirmed that the weapon used in the attack was a 9mm Glock.
That firearm had been legally purchased in Arizona on August 6, 2020, just outside Phoenix.
The buyer? A man named Charles Joe Anderson.
The gun was bought at AJI Sporting Goods, a shop located in Apache Junction.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) confirmed the details, including the store and the buyer.
An official told El Tiempo that this specific Glock model, made in Austria, is rarely seen in violent incidents in Colombia—prompting authorities to launch a full investigation into how it ended up there.
Shop Owner Speaks Out Amid Investigations
Jeff Serdy, the owner of AJI Sporting Goods, spoke with DailyMail.com and confirmed that Anderson had acquired the gun through a legal transfer.
His store only charged a $30 fee and followed every state and federal guideline.
However, Serdy noted that the firearm was originally purchased from a different store, though he didn’t name which one.
Despite the international attention, Serdy said neither Colombian nor U.S. federal authorities had reached out to him as of Monday.
The Bigger Picture: U.S.-Made Guns in Colombia
This incident isn’t isolated.
A 2024 report from Colombia’s National Police shows that nearly 4,000 confiscated guns were made in the United States.
Italy and Germany followed with 805 and 414 seized firearms, respectively.
The growing presence of foreign-made weapons in Colombia is raising alarms among security experts and lawmakers.
Senator’s Condition Remains Critical
Senator Uribe Turbay was rushed into emergency surgery at Fundación Santa Fe Hospital in Bogotá.
By Monday, doctors reported that his condition was still critical, and he hadn’t responded well to treatment.
His wife, María Claudia Tarazona, posted an emotional message on Instagram with a photo of her hands on her husband’s chest, writing: “I ask you with all my heart, don’t stop praying. Miguel needs a miracle.”
Outside the hospital, Uribe’s uncle told reporters that the situation was extremely delicate, adding that only the doctors could truly speak to the chances of recovery.
Alleged Motive: Orders from a Drug Gang
As the investigation unfolded, Rodríguez Casallas was caught and taken to a clinic under heavy police supervision—reportedly guarded by 50 officers.
Despite being injured in the leg, he reportedly confessed to police that he was acting on orders from a local drug gang leader.
“I’ll tell you who it was. Let me give you the numbers,” the teen said during his arrest, hinting at deeper gang involvement in the attack.
Authorities Clamp Down in Teen’s Neighborhood
Following the incident, Colombian authorities launched a major operation in Villas de Alcalá, the area where Rodríguez Casallas lived with his aunt.
A team of 20 officers went door-to-door, questioning residents in hopes of identifying the local gang figure who may have masterminded the attack.
An official source noted that one of the neighborhood parks is under the control of drug traffickers, and investigators are trying to determine who exactly was giving the orders.
What’s Next?
As Senator Uribe Turbay fights for his life, and authorities continue digging into the origins of the attack, questions linger: How did a U.S.-bought gun get smuggled into Colombia?
Who exactly ordered this young boy to carry out the shooting?
And what steps will be taken—both locally and internationally—to prevent firearms from legally entering one country and being used for violence in another?
This story is still unfolding, and the implications stretch far beyond one terrifying afternoon in Bogotá.