Milton Fabián Sánchez

New York, August 28, 2006—Colombian radio commentator Atilano Segundo Pérez Barrios was murdered last week in his apartment in the northern city of Cartagena in the Bolívar province, according to news reports and CPJ interviews. The Committee to Protect Journalists is investigating whether Pérez’ murder is related to his journalistic work.

An unidentified assailant forced his way into Pérez’ apartment around 9 p.m. on August 22, shooting him twice on the abdomen, a family member told CPJ on condition of anonymity. According to local news reports, the assailant fled on the back of a motorcycle. Pérez was taken to the Hospital Universitario del Caribe, where he was pronounced dead.

New York, August 11, 2006—Colombian radio host Milton Fabián Sánchez was gunned down on Wednesday night outside his home in Yumbo, in the southwestern Valle del Cauca province. The Committee to Protect Journalists is investigating whether there is a connection between the murder and Sánchez’ work.

A masked assailant shot Sánchez three times in the face at 9:45 p.m., the journalist’s colleague, Leonardo Orozco, told CPJ. Witnesses said the assailant had been waiting in bushes behind Sánchez’ home, he said. Sánchez was taken to a local hospital and then to Valle University Hospital in the provincial capital, Cali, before dying at around midnight, Orozco said.