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Radio director gunned down, killed in Colombia

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  • August 1, 2013

By Alejandro Martínez

The programming director of a radio station in Colombia was shot and killed on July 29 in the city of Buga, located in Valle de Cauca, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

José Naudin Gómez, director for Informativo Radio Guadalajara, was attacked outside the station office, near the city's Palace of Justice. According to witnesses, Gómez received several shots to the head, reported El Tiempo de Colombia. The killers did not take any of his belongings.

RSF said he had not received any threats.

Soon after the killing, authorities announced that the crime was related to a personal matter. However, RSF asked that his work not be ruled out as a possible motive, stating that these types of investigations are often prematurely thrown out.

“In less than twelve hours it is practically impossible to determine that the assassination of José Naudín Gómez is not related to his job as a journalist. The investigation should continue and be conducted in a serious and impartial manner," stated the organization.

Gómez, 55, was a businessman who had worked in radio for eight years. He had started hosting a morning program only two weeks ago, in which he allowed the public to express their opinions.

Note from the editor: This story was originally published by the Knight Center’s blog Journalism in the Americas, the predecessor of LatAm Journalism Review.