Guatemala lawmaker Julio Cesar Portillo Paz and three officers die in ambush

A Guatemalan member of parliament and three law enforcement officers have been killed following a violent shooting in the eastern region of the country, according to authorities.

President Bernardo Arevalo confirmed the deaths, stating that the fatal assault took place in the municipality of Rio Hondo, located within the Zacapa department. The slain legislator was identified as Julio Cesar Portillo Paz, who represented the National Unity of Hope party, commonly known as UNE.

Portillo was initially transported to a medical facility with critical injuries following the Friday assault. His political party subsequently announced that he had succumbed to his wounds.

Three officers serving with the National Civil Police also lost their lives during the confrontation. President Arevalo said the fallen officers died while carrying out their duties in the field.

Following the incident, Arevalo condemned the assault and directed national security agencies to collaborate closely with prosecutors to track down the perpetrators. In a public statement shared on social media, the president vowed that criminal violence would not be permitted to overshadow the security and lives of citizens across the nation.

Investigators and police teams were deployed to the scene in Rio Hondo to gather evidence and examine the circumstances surrounding the gunfire. Officials have not yet announced any suspects or determined a potential motive behind the deadly shooting.

The fatal ambush follows the fatal shooting of a former prosecutor approximately three weeks earlier, stoking wider concerns over targeted assassinations and escalating security challenges in the Central American country.