The journalist and aspiring regional governor Susy Isabel Aponte Polo has been shot dead this Saturday while participating in a campaign event in the city of Caraz, in the northwest of Peru, as confirmed by Peruvian authorities.
The attack occurred around 12:40 PM (local time) and also left a man injured by gunfire, who remains hospitalized. According to information from the Police, Aponte Polo died shortly after being transferred to the same medical center due to the severity of the injuries sustained.
Security forces have arrested a Venezuelan citizen as the presumed responsible for the crime, who was found with a pistol during the operation. The suspect remains in police custody awaiting interrogation.
Witnesses to the incident, cited by the RPP network, have reported that the attacker allegedly shot the candidate from behind, aiming for the head. For now, more details or the motive for the attack are unknown, although local media point to the possibility of a politically motivated attack to silence the journalist's voice.
Aponte Polo was known for her investigative work on corruption cases in the judicial sphere before making the leap to political life. Her murder has generated unanimous condemnation from institutions. Progressive Senator Ruth Luque has described the attack as "very serious" and has called for the identification of those responsible, while the National Jury of Elections (JNE) has requested clarification of what happened to ensure a "peaceful electoral process with full guarantees."
"Violence has no place in a democratic society. The JNE rejects any act that threatens the life, integrity, and security of individuals," the institution stated in an official statement.
Susy Isabel Aponte Polo, popularly known as 'China Polo', was a widely recognized reporter and was currently running as a candidate for the Regional Government for the 'Alliance for Progress' (APP) party in Áncash, a region located in the northwest of Peru and near the capital, Lima.