Gambling Debt Possibly Motivated Murder of Colombian Soccer Club Chief
Mysterious attackers killed Edgar Paez as the Colombian soccer team Tigers FC faced a recent defeat. While the motive remains uncertain, some speculate the killing could be connected to overdue gambling debts.
Paez was gunned down on Saturday, following Tiburones' loss to Atletico FC, reports El Tiempo. Tragically, he was leaving the stadium with his spouse and daughter when two gunmen arrived on a motorcycle. They fired three or four bullets (depending on the source) at him, hitting him in the chest, neck, and head.
Following the attack, emergency responders rushed Paez to a local hospital, where he arrived close to death. Despite all efforts to revive him, Paez passed away a few hours later.
Conjecture Arises
Being the president of Tigres FC for several years, Paez had a solid reputation for fostering soccer in the area. He had recently valued the team at COP700 million (US$171,850) and held a 49% stake, with the remainder shared among family and friends.
Aside from his tenure at Tigres FC, Paez also sat on the board of directors for Independiente de Santa Fe. This is where potential connections to this weekend's assault may have begun. A handful of presidents from the top-tier Colombian soccer league opined that Paez engaged in sports betting. However, this information has not been corroborated.
Prior to his stint at Tigres FC, Paez served as a detective for the Department of Administrative Security. The agency was disbanded in 2011.
Eduardo Mendez, the present Santa Fe president, attempted to recruit Paez as a prospective investor during his tenure at the club from 2004 to 2007. During that period, it was claimed money from drug trade infiltrated the team.
In 2010, police interrupted a criminal group that had laundered money for their drug activities through Independiente de Santa Fe. Those detained on those charges included established criminals, some of them even previously imprisoned for drug trafficking in the U.S.
Investigation in Progress
Those connected to Paez, like family, friends, and co-workers, dismiss all claims connecting the incident to unlawful practices. These individuals contend that Paez was a respectable community member and ethical figure within the soccer scene.
Investigators have already pinpointed over a dozen public surveillance cameras for in-depth review in the initial phase of their inquiry. The authorities have supposedly found the motorcycle employed in the attack.
These individuals have not yet been unveiled.
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Source: www.casino.org
