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Colombian trans activist Mateo López Mejía was murdered on July 4. He was 25 years old. When he was shot, he was in Circasia, Quindío department (Colombia), preparing a community meal to help people in vulnerable situations.

According to local media reports, an unknown assailant approached and shot him without saying a word. Mateo died instantly. This happened on a soccer field in the La Esmeralda neighborhood while he was helping with a food distribution event.

“He was a great friend who even helped us a lot during the campaign with his spark and joy. I personally deeply regret Mateito’s death,” said the mayor of Circasia, Ana Yulieth Díaz Ubaque, who recounted how he was active on behalf of everyone in the community who needed help, regardless of their LGBTQ+ status. The municipality issued a statement condemning the act.

In many Colombian media outlets, Mateo's identity was violated by referring to him in the feminine form, and often by using the name he was given at birth.

Sandra Martínez, an LGBT+ leader, explained that on Sunday, protests were held to demand justice for all crimes against the LGBT+ community. In recent days, LGBTQ+ activists had held two peaceful protests demanding rights and respect.

Martínez stated, “We condemn the murder of this great leader, a trans man. It deeply saddens us that they continue to kill us. For many years, gay, lesbian, and transgender men and women have been murdered, and nothing has been done to stop it.” At this time, there have been no arrests, nor have any investigations been reported regarding Mateo's murder.

At least 13 social leaders are murdered every month in Colombia, according to data compiled by Hacemos Memoria (a project of the University of Antioquia that investigates, discusses, and promotes public dialogue on the armed conflict and serious human rights violations in Colombia). The report cross-referenced data from the five main lists documenting attacks against human rights defenders and identified that at least 565 people who held some form of social leadership in their communities were murdered between September 26, 2016, when the Peace Agreement between the State and the FARC was signed in Cartagena, and February 18, 2020.