Peruvian Journalist and Regional Candidate Susy Aponte Is Shot Dead at Campaign Event in Áncash

Attack at the Caraz market

Susy Isabel Aponte Polo, widely known as "China Polo" and aged 43 or 44, was campaigning in a market in the district of Caraz, Áncash, when an armed assailant attacked her around 12:40 local time on Saturday, 19 September 2026. The city is located in the Andean region north of Lima, where Aponte was walking alongside supporters and political allies. Witnesses reported to local broadcaster RPP that the attacker approached from behind and fired a shot directly into her head. Aponte was transported to the regional hospital but died shortly after arrival due to the severity of her injuries. Police subsequently detained a Venezuelan national as the suspected shooter, seizing a handgun during the operation and holding him for questioning. Official police communications stated that five other individuals sustained gunshot wounds and received treatment at the regional hospital, though early media reports varied between one and two wounded bystanders.

Threat warnings and investigative work

Aponte was running for the governorship of the Áncash department in Peru's upcoming regional elections scheduled for 4 October 2026, with political reporting citing her candidacy under both Socios por Áncash and Alianza para el Progreso. Prior to her political candidacy, she managed the news outlet China Polo Dominical, focusing on allegations of corruption inside local municipal governments, the judiciary, and the National Police. On 10 September 2026, nine days before her death, Aponte published a video on social media warning that her life was in danger after receiving threatening calls from inside three separate detention facilities. During the recording, she publicly alleged that the head of the criminal investigation directorate (Dirincri), Víctor Revoredo Farfán, had organized an attempt on her life, though authorities have noted that no evidence currently connects those claims to the shooting.

“I have received calls from three prisons warning me that this Mr. Víctor Revoredo Farfán has ordered an attack against me. I have already filed the complaint with the corresponding authorities.”

Institutional reaction and safety concerns

The shooting took place four days after Aponte participated in an official candidates debate on 15 September 2026, organized by the National Jury of Elections (JNE). The murder drew condemnation from national political figures, with progressive Senator Ruth Luque describing the assassination as extremely serious and demanding full identification of everyone involved in the crime. The JNE issued a formal statement urging law enforcement to establish the facts behind the murder and preserve safety during the campaign.

“Violence has no place in a democratic society. The JNE rejects any act that threatens life, integrity, and personal security.”

The Peruvian Press Council also demanded a transparent investigation to determine the exact motive, emphasizing that previous killings of reporters in the country have gone unresolved. According to police statistics, four journalists were murdered across Peru in 2025.