Elías Ramírez, a prominent construction businessman and ex-mayoral candidate, was executed in broad daylight with over 100 rounds in El Tejar.
Executed outside his company gates
In one of the most shocking acts of violence this year in Guatemala, Elías Ramírez, known for his influence in the construction sector and politics, was ambushed just outside his company premises in El Tejar, a town in Chimaltenango.
The attackers, disguised as construction workers, waited for him and opened fire with high-powered weapons—AK-47s, AR-15s, and AR-10s. Ramírez was killed instantly, along with a woman who accompanied him.
Witnesses described the attack as a “warzone-style execution”, with over 100 bullet casings left on the ground.
Feuds over multimillion-dollar construction contracts
Insiders and local sources point to fierce battles over lucrative public infrastructure contracts as a likely motive. Ramírez had been a dominant figure in securing government projects in Parramos and El Tejar.
“He had too much power, too many enemies,” a source close to the victim revealed. This pattern fits a cartel-style killing, often used to send messages in disputes over territorial and financial control.
No arrests, but fear spreads through local circles
Authorities arrived shortly after the shooting but have not reported any arrests or leads. The attackers vanished without a trace, suggesting a well-planned hit by professionals possibly tied to organized crime networks.
The murder has left a power vacuum in local business and political circles, with contractors and municipal figures expressing fear over escalating violence.
Chimaltenango’s rise in cartel-linked violence
This assassination underscores the growing nexus between political power, construction contracts, and cartel operations in Guatemala. The department of Chimaltenango has seen a surge in organized crime, where companies are often used as fronts for money laundering and territorial control.
As investigations continue, residents brace for potential aftershocks in a region already plagued by extortion, executions, and impunity.
