Teacher shot and killed in front of her students

• A phys-ed teacher was shot during class in front of her students.
• She died of her injuries.
• The authorities have offered a reward to anyone who gives information about the armed suspects.

A physical education teacher died after being shot in the middle of class in front of her students. The victim, identified as Sandra Patricia Montenegro, was shot five times on September 3 and died of her injuries after spending three days in the hospital.

The authorities confirmed the teacher’s death. She was attacked by a group of armed men who shot at her while Montenegro was teaching a class of several children who were playing a soccer game in the Guanabanal township, located about 25 minutes from Palmira, Valle del Cauca in Colombia, according to Semana.

Colombian teacher shot in front of her students

«We offer a reward of up to $5 million pesos to whoever provides us with information that leads to the capture of the individuals who perpetrated this violent act,» said Rodrigo Cepeda, Palmira’s security secretary.

For his part, the mayor of Palmira, Óscar Escobar, told Semana that the teacher was taken to an emergency medical center after being shot in front of her students but, unfortunately, she didn’t survive the attack.

Information about the suspects

Photo: Twitter

Authorities reported that the deadly shooting is under investigation and that the identity of the suspects remains unknown. They also reported that they traveled on motorcycles and quickly fled the scene after shooting at the Colombian teacher.

“At the time of the attack she was working, it is totally reprehensible that a person who is doing good for the community is attacked in this way. We will give her and her family all the support they need for their recovery,” added Mayor Escobar.

«It hurts a lot that her life has passed»

Photo: Shutterstock

The Colombian Federation of Education Workers (FECODE) repudiated the murder of Sandra Patricia Montenegro. «It is important to note that, according to press reports, the teacher was close to social organizations in the sector, the Community Action Board and the community council,» FECODE said in a statement.

“Those who exercise pedagogical and social leadership work in the territory usually find themselves in the crosshairs of the armed actors who are fighting over it, just as they fight for control of children and youth. Teachers have historically suffered for being that barrier of containment and protection against crime. In addition, they have been doubly victimized because that vocation translates into the fight for the rights of citizenship, occupying other social spaces of leadership,” they sentenced.

Shooting leaves the country in mourning

Likewise, the governor of the Valley, Clara Luz Roldán, lamented the murder of Sandra Patricia Montenegro and said: «It hurts a lot that her life has ended like this.» He promised «the full weight of the law» will be brought against the «cowards» who caused her death.

“We demand that the Ministry of Education and the Government of Valle del Cauca guarantee the lives of teachers and their families, as well as pedagogical and trade union activities. We stand in solidarity with the colleagues, their families and friends who have been affected,” said FECODE.