Enlarge image
After the shots were fired, police officers close a gate at the Ministry of the Environment building
Photo: ERIKA SANTELICES / AFP
Dominican Republic Environment Minister Orlando Mera has been shot dead in his office in the capital, Santo Domingo.
This was confirmed by a government spokesman in a video speech.
According to the information available so far, the perpetrator was a personal friend of the deceased minister.
He has already been arrested.
The motives for the bloody deed are still being determined.
As the AFP news agency reports, citing sources in the Ministry of the Environment, the perpetrator entered the department head's office on Monday morning when he was in a meeting with his deputies.
There he opened fire.
As a result, heavily armed special forces moved into the ministry.
The building was evacuated by the security forces.
Less than two years in office
"On behalf of the government and the President of the Republic, Luis Abinader, we offer our deepest condolences to the family," the spokesman said.
Mera, 55, was the son of former Dominican President Salvador Jorge Blanco.
He has headed the Ministry of the Environment since August 2020.
tfb/dpa/AFP