An exchange student and promising entrepreneur has been shot dead during an attempted bike jacking.
Leif Lino Elxnat was riding his Suzuki motorcycle when armed assailants intercepted him and tried to steal the bike.
He reportedly resisted and was shot twice in the left side of his chest, killing him instantly.
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The crime occurred on Tuesday morning (6 Jan) on a road between Maicao and Uribia, in the La Guajira peninsula, northernmost Colombia.
The area – known for its desert landscapes and giant sand dunes – is a popular tourist destination.
The suspects attempted to flee on Leif’s bike but, unable to start it, abandoned the scene empty-handed.
The 26-year-old German’s body was left on the road. He is believed to have been travelling with a group of friends.
An Environmental Engineering undergraduate at the Technical University of Darmstadt, Leif had been in Colombia for several months on an exchange programme at the Colombian School of Engineering in Bogotá.
His term had ended in December, but he had stayed on to explore the country, as reported by Need To Know.
Authorities have offered a reward of 70m COP (£13,900) for information leading to the identification and capture of the perpetrators.
The Government of La Guajira said in a statement: “Authorities are pursuing active lines of investigation to determine the whereabouts of the suspects, in coordination with the National Police and the Army.”
Leif was also an entrepreneur, having co-founded a sustainability start-up with two friends. They had developed software to help local SMEs make their products more environmentally friendly.
He also enjoyed travelling and DJing.
Paying tribute, Myriam Astrid Angarita Gómez, Rector of the Colombian School of Engineering, said: “Leif’s untimely passing deeply affects our university community.
“Although he was part of it for only a short time, he left a lasting impression through his humanity, dedication to his studies, and interest in sharing his own culture while learning about Colombian culture – a true example of international cooperation and exchange.”
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