Grief and resilience in Parque Heredia: The middle-class neighborhood in Cartagena that refuses to live under the shadow of fear and insecurity.

**Urbanization of Parque Heredia, Cartagena** Photo: Private archive **REPORTER** May 12, 2026, 09:58 Updated: May 12, 2026, 09:58 The death of Albeiro Herrera de Ávila was not just another statistic in Cartagena's crime rate; it became the catalyst for a collective outrage that today has the residents of Parque Heredia taking a stand. Following the violent robbery on Saturday, May 9th, in broad daylight, which left the young man dead and two people injured, the community has decided to transform their pain into an unwavering demand for security. The day before, at 6:00 pm, the bridge connecting the sector to La Carolina became the epicenter of a peaceful demonstration. Candles, flags, and slogans demanding justice marked a day of mourning, where residents raised their voices against a wave of crime that, they claim, has been robbing them of their peace for months. **READ ALSO: The sacrifice of a 'neighborhood hero'** Albeiro Herrera de Ávila lost his life in an act of bravery that today mourns the entire sector: he tried to defend a neighbor who was being victimized by a robbery within the residential complex. "Our community is in mourning over this act of violence that mourns the entire neighborhood. This is not the first incident resulting from insecurity," said Rafael Quiroz, president of the Community Action Board (JAC). The crime, which quickly went viral on social media, forced an immediate reaction from the district authorities, and hours after the crime, the alleged murderer was arrested. He is a 27-year-old man from Cartagena, known by the alias "Yancarlito," who has two prior criminal records for crimes of violence against a public official and trafficking, manufacturing, or possession of narcotics, according to the police. "Our institution will not spare any effort to bring to justice those who attack the lives and integrity of citizens. We will continue working in the national offensive against crime," said Brigadier General Gelver Yecid Peña Araque, commander of the Metropolitan Police of Cartagena. In addition, the District met with community leaders to seek solutions to the escalation of violence in this urban expansion area. **READ ALSO: Security Pact** **Capture of the alleged murderer** Photo: National Police In a meeting on Monday morning, the commander of the Metropolitan Police, General Gelver Yecid Peña Araque, and the Secretary of the Interior, Bruno Hernández, agreed on a roadmap with specific commitments to intervene in the area. The central axis of the strategy will be permanent presence, one of the historical demands of the residents who distrust sporadic patrols. **READ ALSO: Commitments agreed upon between the District and the JAC of Parque Heredia:** Parque Heredia: several actions to be undertaken. 1. @distrisegctg will install video surveillance cameras and community alarms, all connected to our T4 room. 2. The @PoliciaCtagena will install a permanent quadrant near the shopping center, and a mobile CAI, ... pic.twitter.com/lTfWR9K8lS— Dumek Turbay Paz (@dumek_turbay) May 12, 2026 The coordinated security plan establishes priority measures that include the immediate installation of a fixed mobile CAI with a permanent police presence and the assignment of fixed quadrants with units dedicated exclusively to patrolling the sector. In addition, video surveillance will be strengthened by installing eight cameras in strategic locations and two community alarms. Furthermore, they are committed to improving street lighting and implementing community policing programs. The sacrifice of Albeiro, they say, cannot be in vain. In addition, we invite you to watch our documentary: Documentary by journalist Jineth Bedoya. Photo: CARTAGENA Follow all the information from Colombia on Facebook and Twitter, or in our weekly newsletter. **NEWSLETTERS** **EL TIEMPO** Register for our newsletters and receive news in your email according to your interests. Stay informed with what really matters to you. **EL TIEMPO GOOGLE NEWS** Follow us on GOOGLE NEWS. Stay always updated with the latest news, coverage, stories, and analysis directly on Google News. **EL TIEMPO WHATSAPP** Join the El Tiempo channel on WhatsApp to stay up-to-date with the most relevant news at the moment. **EL TIEMPO APP** Stay informed with the EL TIEMPO app. Receive the latest news, coverage, stories, and analysis directly on your device. **SUBSCRIBE TO THE DIGITAL EDITION** Reliable information for you. Subscribe to EL TIEMPO and consult our journalistic content without limits.