Dominican Republic minister shot dead in office
Published 3 hours ago
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Police scramble to enter the ministerial premises after a friend of Orlando Jorge Mera shot and killed him in his office
The Dominican Republic's minister of environment and natural resources has been shot and killed in his office by a close personal friend, officials say.
Orlando Jorge Mera, 55, was holding a meeting at the time of the attack. At least six shots were heard.
A presidential spokesman identified the assailant as Miguel Cruz, describing him as a childhood friend of the minister.
He is now in custody. The motive for the shooting remains unclear.
In a statement, Mr Jorge Mera's family said he had been shot multiple times by a man he was friends with since childhood.
More:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-61712872
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TUE, 07 JUN, 2022 - 02:32
MARTIN ADAMES, ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Dominican Republic’s environment minister — who was also the son of a former president — was fatally shot in his office by a close friend on Monday, the office of the president said in a statement.
Authorities said Orlando Jorge Mera was shot by Fausto Miguel de Jesus Cruz de la Mota, who was later arrested at a church dozens of blocks away after telling a priest he had committed a crime and handed over a gun to him.
. . .
As shots rang out late on Monday morning, people on the street yelled and took cover as those fleeing the building climbed over a tall fence after first throwing over purses, backpacks and even a pair of shoes because the building’s main gates were locked.
When he was brought out, Mr Cruz was wearing a helmet and bulletproof vest and kept his head mostly down as the glasses he wore slid slightly down his nose. One bystander yelled: “You killed a good man! Murderer!”
More:
https://www.irishexaminer.com/world/arid-40889810.html
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Environment Minister Orlando Jorge Mera
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Google translation.
Who is Miguel Cruz, accused of being responsible for the death of Orlando Jorge Mera?
Santo Domingo, DR
Miguel Cruz is identified as the person who shot and killed Environment Minister Orlando Jorge Mera.
In information published in July 2013, his full name Fausto Miguel de Jesús Cruz de la Mota is mentioned as part of the official list of members of the National Executive Committee (CEN) of the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD).
The list includes 2,300 people, as members of the highest body of the PRD, who are identified by their names, surnames and ID number.
Cruz was born on June 30, 1965 in La Vega.
In addition, he is a merchant, according to information to which Listín Diario had access.
The father of the alleged shooter was the pilot Major General, Fausto Miguel Cruz Ramírez, who was chief of staff of the Dominican Air Force between 1988 and 1990 , during the government of Joaquín Balaguer, according to the portal of the Dominican Air Force.
His father was put into retirement in 2003 through Decree 239-03, issued by former President Hipólito Mejía.
https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2022/06/06/724577/quien-es-miguel-cruz-senalado-como-responsable-de-la-muerte-de-orlando-jorge-mera
