Our beloved deputy director, journalist Isidoro Zarco, died tragically yesterday—January 28—at 1:15 p.m., on the 10th. avenue near the La Barranquilla bridge, in front of the main stand of the Mateo Flores stadium, under the murderous bullets fired by unknown individuals.
The treacherous and criminal attack was committed when, after leaving the offices of Free press, He was heading to his residence in zone 9, traveling on 10th. avenue in zone 1. As he passed under the La Barranquilla bridge, and in front of the stadium, he was passed by another vehicle on the left side, from where they cowardly opened fire on his person, hitting him four times. He died on the spot while the murderers fled.
Our beloved deputy director’s car was left with the rear door windows completely shattered.
A watchman speaks
Mr. Manuel Zuleta Castellanos, guard at the La Barranquilla railway bridge booth, explained that it was approximately 1:06 p.m. when he heard some detonations. “Out of curiosity,” he continued, “I looked out the window of the booth. On impulse I looked down and could see a red vehicle—that of our deputy director—with the stops on and I smelled a smell of gunpowder. I decided to notify the train dispatch that something abnormal had happened below and minutes later a fire department appeared and I noticed how the car, which was going down little by little, was stopped by the firefighters.”
They deplore crime
The other four founders of Prensa Libre condemned the execrable crime and asked for its clarification. Meanwhile, Isidoro Zarco’s widow, Mrs. Teresa Bolaños de Zarco, asked that no flowers be sent to the wake, but that everything be donated to the People’s ProHealth League, which her deceased husband presided over. A charity marimba gala was scheduled for January 30 to benefit the same entity, which offered to cancel, but Doña Teresa said that Don Isidoro would not have allowed such a thing. The function was carried out. Thousands of expressions of condolence were received over several days.
With original texts from Prensa Libre number 5,663
write the story
This note is part of the commemorative series of our diamond wedding, it is a journey through news that marked the history of Guatemala, with original texts and images from each era, as a reliable testimony of our mission of service.