Tragedy struck on June 12, 2023, as Ansermanuevo became the site of Colombia’s 45th massacre of 2023. The victims, Gustavo Alberto Ramírez Rodríguez, 39, and Johana Cataño, 34, faced a horrifying attack with firearms in a local business in Plaza Vieja Colony, as reported by Indepaz.
The devastating incident took an even more heartbreaking turn for Johana Cataño, who was pregnant. In a bid to save her 7-month-old baby’s life, she underwent an emergency cesarean section. Despite the efforts, the newborn tragically passed away on June 12.
Colonel Wilson Román Silva, the acting commander of the Valle del Cauca Police, shared the grim news that Gustavo Alberto Ramírez Rodríguez succumbed to his injuries at the Santa Ana Hospital in Ansermanuevo. Johana Cataño was transferred to the San Juan de Dios Hospital in Cartago, where she, too, eventually lost her life.
The married couple, enjoying the company of family and friends, fell victim to an unexpected and violent attack with firearms within a commercial establishment in Ansermanuevo.
The motives behind this brutal act and the identity of the perpetrators remain shrouded in mystery. Colonel Román Silva emphasized, “the National Police, in coordination with the Attorney General’s Office, has designated a special group to capture those responsible for this regrettable incident.”
This heart-wrenching event marks the 45th massacre in Colombia this year, according to data from Indepaz.