Killing of Jairo Ortiz explained

Jairo Johan Ortiz Bustamante (2 September 1997-6 April 2017) was a Venezuelan student. Ortiz was the first person killed during the 2017 protests in Venezuela.

Killing

Jairo Ortiz was a student at the Universidad Experimental Politécnica (UNEXPO) in Caracas. On 6 April 2017, he was shot while participating in a demonstration held in Carrizal, in Miranda state, dying at the age of 19. The independent investigation carried out by the Public Ministry determined that the shots were fired by a Bolivarian National Police official, Rohenluis Leonel Rojas Mara, who drew his regulation weapon and fired multiple shots at a group of 81 young people, despite the constitutional rule that prohibits the use of firearms to control demonstrations.[1]

The killing of Jairo Ortiz was documented in a report by a panel of independent experts from the Organization of American States, considering that it could constitute a crime against humanity committed in Venezuela along with other killings during the protests.

Notes and References

  1. Book: INFORME DE LA SECRETARÍA GENERAL DE LA ORGANIZACIÓN DE LOS ESTADOS AMERICANOS Y DEL PANEL DE EXPERTOS INTERNACIONALES INDEPENDIENTES SOBRE LA POSIBLE COMISIÓN DE CRÍMENES DE LESA HUMANIDAD EN VENEZUELA. 2018. Organización de Estados Americanos. Washington D.C.. TORTURA COMO CRIMEN DE LESA HUMANIDAD. 24 June 2018.