Confessed Gunman Claims Hired for Thousands to Shoot Peru Candidate; Second Death Reported
A Venezuelan national has confessed to shooting Peruvian political candidate Susy Aponte, stating he was paid between $2,800 and $4,200 by a woman he never met who contacted him through a ride-sharing service. A 72-year-old woman wounded in the September 19 attack in Caraz has died in hospital, marking the second fatality from the shooting. The detention of the alleged gunman and the suspected financier expires on October 4, the same day Peru holds regional and municipal elections.
The attack occurred during a campaign appearance at a market in Caraz, a municipality in Peru's Áncash region, on September 19. Beyond the candidate herself, the violence claimed a second life when a 72-year-old bystander succumbed to injuries sustained in the shooting. The alleged gunman, apprehended at the scene, sustained three gunshot wounds during his capture and provided his initial statement while hospitalized and under armed guard.
According to his confession, the operational chain involved minimal direct contact between parties. Obispo claims the intermediary connection formed through his work in ride-hailing services, with all coordination conducted remotely via phone. He stated the weapon was sourced locally in southern Lima for approximately US$140 before transport to the target location.
The timing of these events creates potential complications for Peru's electoral process. With both suspects' detention expiring on the same day as regional and municipal voting, questions may arise about investigative momentum and judicial continuity during the transition. The case's revelation of a hired-killing scheme targeting a political candidate could influence voter confidence in security institutions and election administration, though the jurisdictional separation between the crime's location and Lima may affect perceived vulnerability to such threats across different regions.