SANTO DOMINGO — Monday’s shooting death of Dominican Republic’s minister for the environment and natural resource — the son of a former President — occurred in his office. The office of the President released a statement.
Authorities claim Orlando Jorge Mera was killed by Fausto Miguel De Jesus Cruz de La Mota. He was later found out to have confessed to a priest that he had committed a crime, and gave a gun to him at a nearby church.
Officials didn’t give any motive and it wasn’t immediately clear if Cruz, 56, had an agent.
The office of President Luis Abinader stated that “We offer our deepest condolences.”
People on the streets yelled as shots rang out late Monday morning. Those fleeing the building climbed a high fence after throwing purses, backpacks, and even shoes. The main gates of the building were locked so they fled the area.
According to authorities, Cruz promised to surrender if they made sure he wasn’t killed in a telephone conversation while he was at church.
Jorge was taken into custody by heavily armed police officers at the church. The church is approximately a 15-minute drive away from Jorge’s office.
Cruz was wearing a helmet, bulletproof vest, and a helmet. He also kept his head down because the glasses that he wore fell slightly to his nose when he was finally brought out. One witness yelled, “You murdered a good man!” Murderer!”
The victim was a member of a powerful political family. Jorge Blanco was the son and former Dominican President Salvador Jorge Blanco’s sister. His sister is vice minister in Abinader’s administration. Jorge’s son is a lawmaker with the Modern Revolutionary Party of which Jorge is a founder member.
The family released a statement stating that Cruz was Jorge’s friend from childhood and that Jorge had been shot multiple times.
“Our family forgives those responsible for this. It said that Orlando’s greatest legacy was not to hold grudges.
As mourners gathered near the building, police and emergency personnel surrounded the Environment and Natural Resources Ministry office in Santo Domingo. Jorge’s office is located on the fourth floor of the building, which also houses the Ministry of Tourism.
Jorge’s ministry made a short statement saying that “we are troubled by this situation”.
Bartolome Pujals was the executive director of the Cabinet of Innovation. He wrote that he regretted the killing.
Pujals stated that “His passing is a tragedy.” “We Dominicans must come together to make a peace pact and peaceful coexistence. There can be no more violence.
