Colombia star Luis Muriel’s brother-in-law gunned down by hitmen as striker, 33, posts emotional tribute
COLOMBIAN international Luis Muriel’s brother-in-law has been killed by hitmen.
Luis Ramirez Lindao, 24, died after being shot more than 20 times as he drove a high-end Toyota Fortuner SUV.
His motorbike-riding assassins reportedly used a mini Uzi machine gun to end his life.
Footage from the murder scene in Maicao in Colombia’s La Guajira region near the country’s border with Venezuela showed Lindoa's bullet-riddled vehicle.
Luis had been driving when he lost control of the car and crashed as he tried to escape his killers.
Locals were filmed surrounding the white Toyota and trying to right it to free the victim.
READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
One of the Good Samaritans, who appeared to be a police officer, could be overheard radioing his boss and asking him to alert emergency responders.
The driver was eventually dragged out of the SUV by a group of men who managed to kick through the windscreen.
But Luis was pronounced dead at the scene.
Five of the bullets fired at him are said to have hit him in the head.
Most read in Sport
Another graphic video showed him face down on the ground by the side of his vehicle with a blanket over him as police began to cordon off the street at around midday on Tuesday.
The dead man was the brother of former Sampdoria, Sevilla and Atalanta striker Luis Muriel’s wife Tasharem Villegas Lindao.
He was also related to at least two politicians including a La Guajira MP.
Police have not yet gone public on a possible motive for the terrible crime.
But they are understood to be investigating whether those political links have any bearing on what happened.
One local report said Luis had received threats in the days leading up to his death and was planning to move away from the area.
Muriel, who has been capped 45 times by his country at senior level and is currently playing for MLS side Orlando City, shared his brother-in-law’s funeral details on his Instagram overnight as he paid tribute to him.
It read: "You left us with the emptiness of your absence but your beautiful memory remains in our hearts, everywhere and at every moment.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
"You will always live on in our thoughts."
Luis Ramirez Lindao’s funeral is due to take place later today.
Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.