Prominent Chavista Journalist Assassinated in Caracas

[Judi Lynn]

Prominent Chavista Journalist Assassinated in Caracas

By Z.C. Dutka

Published on Jan 20th 2016 at 4.20pm

Santa Elena, January 20th, 2016. (venezuelanalysis.com)- Journalist Ricardo Duran, official Press Secretary for Venezuela’s socialist government, was shot dead in the early hours of Wednesday morning while arriving at his Caracas home.

Upon leaving his vehicle in the residential neighborhood of Caricuao, Duran was shot with a single bullet by an assailant evidently trained to kill, authorities say.

“They didn’t take anything from him; not his wallet nor cash, not his cell phone or regulatory weapon, he had a gun permit, and much less his car,” said Caracas Chief of Government Daniel Aponte, indicating that the crime is being treated by investigators as an assassination.

“We are simply dismayed,” said Aponte, calling Duran an “example of revolutionary journalism.”

The slain journalist was well-known as a former anchorman of VTV state television, and has been described as one of the key figures in authentically reporting the 2002 coup d’état against Hugo Chavez, which many private media outlets presented as a resignation.

Duran received a National Prize for Journalism in 2009 in recognition of his work in radio, and previously held the post of Director of Communications for the National Assembly.

http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/11825

[center]

Ricardo Duran [/center]

[GGJohn]

1. Assassinated? Or a victim of murder in the murder city of the world?

I wouldn't believe a word coming from any chavista govt official.
Considering that Caracas is the most violent city in the world, it's more likely that he was a victim of the out of control violence in Caracas.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Gunmen kill prominent ally of Venezuelan president

Gunmen kill prominent ally of Venezuelan president

AFP
January 20, 2016 4:23 PM

Caracas (AFP) - Gunmen killed a prominent ally of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, prosecutors said on Wednesday, a crime the socialist leader suggested was politically motivated.

Ricardo Duran Trujillo, 45, was fatally shot near his home on Tuesday night, the state prosecution service said in a statement.

There were conflicting suggestions as to whether Duran, a former journalist and ex-head of media for the National Assembly legislature, was the victim of a botched robbery or a targeted killing.

He was a high-profile supporter of the president, who is locked in a political standoff with opponents.

Prosecutors, citing witnesses, said Duran "was intercepted by three men" in the west of the capital and resisted when they tried to rob him.

Maduro condemned the killing of an ally "committed to the revolution," blaming "those who continue waging war on the Venezuelan people from within the darkness of fascism."

Prosecutors said in a statement that unidentified men shot Duran several times before driving off in their own vehicle, leaving his belongings untouched.

"It is striking that they did not take anything," said Daniel Aponte, head of the Capital District government, a metropolitan authority for which Duran was working.

More:
http://news.yahoo.com/venezuela-pro-government-political-figure-shot-dead-190438317.html

[Judi Lynn]

3. Venezuelan journalist possibly murdered by hitman: official

Venezuelan journalist possibly murdered by hitman: official
Source: Xinhua | 2016-01-21 11:19:48 | Editor: huaxia

CARACAS, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Preliminary investigations into the death of Venezuelan journalist Ricardo Duran have revealed that he might have been murdered by a hitman, a local official said Wednesday.

Duran, 45, was shot dead near his home in the early hours of Wednesday morning in Caracas, said Mayor Jorge Rodriguez from the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV).

"We have found the murder involved a hitman. (The opposition party) should not try to cause problems and hinder the true motives of the murder," said Rodriguez.

After a thorough investigation, there will be punishment for everyone involved in the "vile assassination," said Rodriguez.

More:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-01/21/c_135031275.htm

[GGJohn]

4. And I'm sure Maduro will reveal the evidence real soon.