2007 Balsillas massacre

Series of shootings in Colombia Balsillas, Caqueta, Colombia June 10, 2007 Attendances at a San Pedrito party at the Guillermo Ríos Mejía school Mass shooting, school shooting Rifles 6 3 Yeimer Alberto Jiménez Rodríguez Jair Farfán Moor Dispute after the principal refused to sell alcohol On June 10, 2007, two shootings in a school and an estate in Balsillas, Colombia left a total of 6 dead and 3 injured. The shooters 21-year-old Yeimer Alberto Jiménez Rodríguez, and 20-years old Jair Farfán Moore were arrested after trying to escape. Background Colombia registered a critic increase of false positives murders between 2000 and 2009, with the murders peaking in 2002–2008, and at least 6,402 victims in the country.2021-02-18 6.402 personas fueron asesinadas en ejecuciones extrajudiciales entre 2002 y 2008 en Colombia https://www.france24.com/es/video/20210218-6-402-personas-fueron-asesinadas-en-ejecuciones-extrajudiciales-entre-2002-y-2008-en-colombia 2026-08-24 France 24 Shooting On June 10, 2007, civilians were attending a San Pedrito party inside the Guillermo Ríos Mejía school. Two soldiers, Yeimer Alberto Jiménez and Jair Farfán Moor deserted their military base and attended the party while drunk.Press Europa 2007-06-10 Colombia.- Dos soldados desertados ebrios asesinan a seis civiles en Balsillas (Caquetá) https://www.europapress.es/internacional/noticia-colombia-dos-soldados-desertados-ebrios-asesinan-seis-civiles-balsillas-caqueta-20070610220213.html 2026-08-24 www.europapress.es The soldiers asked Marlene Berrío, the school principal, for more alcohol, but she refused, arguing that they were already drunk. They quickly opened fire with their duty weapons in the schoolyard, killing Marlene Berrío, Jair Giraldo, and Lucas Corredor; two other men were injured but survived by playing dead. After the shooting, both soldiers escaped to the estate "La blanca"; in the estate they yelled asking for money and the keys of a motorbike. After being denied, they forced their entrance were a marriage who previously attended the party were sleeping. Inside they killed Miller Velásquez, his wife Melania Bentacur and his son Alejandro Velásquez. They also injured the second son of the family, who managed to escape. Hours later they were arrested by the military.Caqueta Redaccion 2011-12-01 Destituidos militares responsables de la masacre de Balsillas https://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/cms-10869185 2026-08-24 El Tiempo spanish Aftermath Shortly after the shootings, around 1,500 people accompanied by local leaders marched asking for justice, and an investigation on the military.Tiempo Redaccion El 2007-06-21 1.500 campesinos pidieron justicia por masacre de Balsillas https://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/mam-2535180 2026-08-24 El Tiempo spanish The UN released a statement condemning the crime and calling for an investigation, as well as the implementation of necessary measures to prevent similar acts.2007-06-12 ONU condena asesinato de seis personas en Colombia Noticias ONU https://news.un.org/es/story/2007/06/1106081 2026-08-24 news.un.org es Both soldiers were arrested and charged with aggravated murder and illegal possession of firearms exclusively of military use. On August 29, 2007, they were found guilty and sentenced to 40 years in prison. According to the judge, the fact that they were active soldiers and their duty was to protect the community aggravated their crimes.Tiempo Redaccion El 2007-08-29 Condena a cuarenta años de prisión para soldados que cometieron masacre en Balsillas, Caquetá https://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/cms-3699755 2026-08-24 El Tiempo es In June 2009, it was reported that Merlin Berrio's daughter, Claudia, had been fighting for more sanctions in the case, especially against the commander of the military base where both soldiers were stationed. Although the United Nations, the Ombudsman's Office, and the Human Rights Commission of the House of Representatives were involved in these complaints, by 2009 there had still been no resolution.RECLAMAN JUSTICIA POR MASACRE EN BALSILLAS https://vidassilenciadas.online/reclaman-justicia-por-masacre-en-balsillas/ 2026-08-24 vidassilenciadas.online References Colombia Category:Massacres in Colombia Category:Massacres in 2007 Category:Deaths by firearm in Colombia Category:2007 mass shootings Category:2000s mass shootings in South America Category:21st-century mass murders in Colombia Category:2007 murders in South America Category:School shootings in South America Category:Mass shootings in schools