CCTV footage shows the moment a former model and contestant in the Miss Guatemala pageant was assassinated in broad daylight.
The video shows a masked man quickly approaching Ramirez from behind and shooting her once in the back of her head. He then runs away.
Police said it could have been a “crime of passion.”
Violent crime is a serious problem in Guatemala, according to the U.S. State Department.
In 2016, the Guatemalan National Police (PNC) reported over 4,500 homicides and 3,500 missing persons. In a country of nearly 17 million, that makes for a homicide rate of about five times that of the U.S.
“Guatemala is consistently ranked by commercial security sources as one of the 25 most dangerous countries in the world,” the State Department states. “Violent crime is attributed to endemic poverty, an abundance of weapons, a legacy of societal violence, and the presence of organized criminal gangs.”
There’s a strong presence of Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Mara Barrio 18 (18th Street) gangs in the country.
MS-13 is known for its extreme violence and has been targeted for elimination by the Trump administration. One of its mottos is “Mata, roba, viola, controla” or “Kill, steal, rape, control.”
