Paola Andreína Ramírez Gómez (26 July 199319 April 2017) was a Venezuelan student from the

Catholic University of Tachira Catholic University of Tachira (''Universidad Católica del Táchira'' – UCAT) in San Cristobal, capital of Táchira state in Venezuela, originated in 1962 as an extension of Andrés Bello Catholic University of the Society of Jesus. History The ...

killed during the

2017 Venezuelan protests The 2017 Venezuelan protests were a series of protests occurring throughout Venezuela. Protests began in January 2017 after the arrest of multiple opposition leaders and the cancellation of dialogue between the opposition and Nicolás Maduro's g ...

Killing

On 19 April 2017, Ramírez was nearby the Las Palomas Square in the San Carlos neighborhood in San Cristóbal,

Táchira state Táchira State (, ) is one of the 23 States of Venezuela, states of Venezuela. The state capital is San Cristóbal, Táchira, San Cristóbal. Táchira State covers a total surface area of and as of the 2011 census, had a population of 1,168,9 ...

, when she was intercepted by several armed civilians on motorcycles (also known as ''colectivos'') that were patrolling the area due to the demonstrations that were taking place in the zone. They tried to rob Ramírez of her belongings. She fended them off and ran away. Her assailants chased her down and shot her in the

thorax The thorax (: thoraces or thoraxes) or chest is a part of the anatomy of mammals and other tetrapod animals located between the neck and the abdomen. In insects, crustaceans, and the extinct trilobites, the thorax is one of the three main di ...

, puncturing her lung; she died shortly thereafter. On 21 April, during her funeral, her parents were taken by the CICPC forensic police and interrogated following their comments that she had called them minutes before her death, stating that colectivos were pursuing her. Their testimony contrasted Interior Minister

Néstor Reverol Néstor Luis Reverol Torres (born 28 October 1964) holds the position of Minister of the People's Power for Interior Relations and Justice of Venezuela and is currently Commander General of the National Guard of Venezuela. On 3 August 2016, he ...

's statement, who said that a member of an opposition party killed Ramírez. Ramírez's death was documented in a report by a panel of independent experts from the

Organization of American States The Organization of American States (OAS or OEA; ; ; ) is an international organization founded on 30 April 1948 to promote cooperation among its member states within the Americas. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, the OAS is ...

, considering that it could constitute a

crime against humanity Crimes against humanity are certain serious crimes committed as part of a large-scale attack against civilians. Unlike war crimes, crimes against humanity can be committed during both peace and war and against a state's own nationals as well as ...

committed in Venezuela along with other killings during the protests.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramirez, Paola 1993 births 2017 deaths Deaths by firearm in Venezuela Deaths by person in Venezuela Female murder victims Filmed killings People murdered in Venezuela 2017 Venezuelan protests Violence against women in Venezuela 2017 murders in Venezuela History of women in Venezuela Protest-related deaths Catholic University of Tachira alumni Murdered Venezuelan students

Killing

See also

References