A man reportedly stepped out of his vehicle on a Cúcuta road on Monday afternoon to speak to a man on a motorcycle. He was shot dead in what authorities describe as a hitman attack.
The victim was Miguel Armando Castellanos Serrano, a reserve National Police major who was widely reported as a precandidate for mayor of Cúcuta. The city lies in Norte de Santander, a department (Colombia’s equivalent of a state) on the border with Venezuela.
For US readers, the killing matters because Colombia is a close US partner and the Venezuelan border is a focus of US security and migration policy. It also comes a year before local elections, and it raises questions about the safety of candidates.
- Who: Miguel Castellanos, a former Cúcuta security chief and reserve police major, was shot dead.
- Where: Near a fuel station on Cúcuta’s Western Ring Road, on Monday afternoon, 26 October 2026.
- Next: No suspects are identified; Norte de Santander offers 50 million pesos (about US$16,000) for information.
- As of 27 October 2026, 00:40 GMT
What We Know
Castellanos was attacked near a fuel station on the Western Ring Road, known as the Anillo Vial Occidental, in El Pórtico, a district on the edge of Cúcuta. The road is the access route toward Los Patios, a neighbouring municipality, and on to Bucaramanga, the capital of neighbouring Santander department.
Authorities describe a sicario attack, the Colombian term for a hired gunman. He was reportedly speaking with a man on a motorcycle after leaving his vehicle when he was shot.
A minor who was with him was not hurt. The Cúcuta Metropolitan Police, the city’s police command, and the city administration confirmed the incident.
Police have not announced any arrests. The investigation is ongoing.
Castellanos served as Secretary of Government of Cúcuta, the city’s top security and interior official, until he resigned in January 2026. Before that he spent more than 21 years in the National Police, Colombia’s national law enforcement force, and retired to the reserve as a major.
He was a precandidate for mayor, meaning he had signalled his interest in running in next year’s local elections. He was the brother of Jairo Castellanos, a former senator.
George Quintero, the Security Secretary of Norte de Santander, announced a reward of 50 million pesos (about US$16,000, at roughly 3,130 pesos per US dollar, RT rate of 27 October) for information. No suspects have been identified, and the investigation continues.
Cúcuta is the capital of Norte de Santander and one of the main cities on Colombia’s eastern border. Castellanos’s killing took place on one of the roads that connect it with the rest of the department.
What Is Not Known
Authorities have not said who ordered or carried out the attack. They have not given a motive, and no arrests have been made.
The exact time of the shooting has not been released. It is also unclear whether any political party or movement backed his mayoral bid.
Police have not said whether witnesses or cameras captured the attack. They have also not said how many people were involved.
We are not drawing conclusions about motive. Any link to his political plans or his past work remains unestablished unless prosecutors say otherwise.
What It Means for Travelers and US Readers
Cúcuta lies on the Venezuelan border, a region that many US travellers, businesses and policymakers watch closely. Readers planning travel to Norte de Santander should consult the US State Department’s current travel advisory for Colombia, which covers individual regions.
The case will be watched as candidates prepare for local elections next year. Colombian authorities have not yet said whether security arrangements for candidates will change.
Colombian prosecutors and police, not outside observers, will establish what happened. Until they do, early accounts, including social media posts, should be treated with caution.
This is a developing story, and details may change as police and prosecutors release more information. For now, the facts are limited to what officials have confirmed.
More: Colombia news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Miguel Castellanos?
He was a former Secretary of Government of Cúcuta, who resigned in January 2026, and a reserve National Police major with more than 21 years of service. He was also a precandidate for mayor of the city.
Where and when did the attack happen?
It happened on Monday afternoon, 26 October 2026, near a fuel station on the Western Ring Road in El Pórtico, a district on the edge of Cúcuta. Authorities have not released the exact time.
Have any suspects been identified?
No. The investigation is ongoing, and Norte de Santander is offering a reward of 50 million pesos (about US$16,000) for information that helps investigators.
When are Colombia’s next local elections?
Colombia’s local elections are due next year. Mayors are among the officials chosen in them, which is why Cúcuta’s mayoral race will now be watched closely.
Related reading: Cúcuta Political Violence Explained looks at the armed groups, the border and the 2027 local elections.
Published Mon, Oct 26 ET · Source: Colombian police and local authorities
Sources: Cúcuta Metropolitan Police, Norte de Santander department government (Security Secretariat), Cúcuta municipal administration statements, 26 October 2026.
Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief · Editorial standards · Report an error