On Tuesday, October 20, 2026, a deadly shooting inside the Batallón Tarqui in Sogamoso, Boyacá, left a sergeant and a soldier dead, while another soldier and a dog sustained serious injuries.
Authorities identified the shooter as professional soldier Edwin Malabet Collante, who reportedly fired upon Sergeant Second Class Héctor Hernando Lozano Burgos before taking his own life.
Dispute Over an Order Triggers Fatal Shooting at Batallón Tarqui
According to military sources cited by El Tiempo, the violence began when Sergeant Lozano issued an instruction that soldier Malabet Collante answered in an airada, or angry, manner. The verbal exchange quickly escalated into a physical confrontation inside the military base. Investigators state that Malabet Collante shot his superior from behind with his service rifle.
Following the initial shots directed at Sergeant Lozano, the gunman wounded another soldier and a canine in the immediate vicinity. Within seconds, the attacker turned the weapon on himself and died by suicide, as detailed in reports from Noticias Caracol and the Army’s official statements.
Did You Know?
The military personnel involved in the tragedy belonged to the Engineering Corps and the Disaster Attention Brigade, and were actively organizing their departure to handle an emergency in Villa de Leyva when the altercation broke out.
Investigation and Institutional Response in Sogamoso
The Ejército Nacional deployed an interdisciplinary team to provide medical attention to the injured and offer support to the families of the deceased soldiers. The Army expressed its “sincerest condolences and solidarity to the families, companions and loved ones of the deceased soldiers” in this difficult moment.
Authorities launched an immediate inquiry into the incident, conducting interviews with personnel stationed at the Boyacá base to collect witness testimonies and key evidence.
Concurrent Military Fatalities
The incident at the Batallón de Artillería N.° 1 is part of a series of recent lethal events involving military personnel. In a separate case, a 22-year-old marine who was nearing the end of his military service was found dead on Sunday near a creek close to his base in Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca, with a gunshot wound to the head. Additionally, the family of Brayan Esneider Vera Montes, another soldier who died under unclear circumstances in Bochalema, Norte de Santander, has demanded a thorough investigation, with family member Marisol stating: We ask that what happened be clarified and that the truth comes to light.
Frequently Asked Questions
What military unit was stationed at the Batallón Tarqui during the incident?
The personnel involved belonged to the Brigada de Atención de Desastres and the Engineering Corps of the Ejército Nacional, preparing to respond to a forest fire in Villa de Leyva.
Who were the individuals killed in the Sogamoso military base?
The fatalities were Sergeant Second Class Héctor Hernando Lozano Burgos and professional soldier Edwin Malabet Collante, who died after turning his service rifle on his superior and himself.
What other injuries were reported during the October 20 shooting?
In addition to the two deaths, another soldier and a canine sustained serious injuries during the armed altercation inside the Boyacá installation.
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