Dominica: The minister was shot and killed by his best friend in his office

Officials confirmed that Minister Mera was shot and killed by Miguel Cruz. Currently, this subject has been detained and no further information is available.

Employees at the Dominican Republic Department of Natural Resources and Environment told reporters they heard at least seven gunshots in the building.

“My deepest condolences,” the office of President Luis Abinader said, according to the newspaper The Guardian.

Minister Mera comes from a family of great political influence. He is the son of former President of the Dominican Republic Salvador Jorge Blanco. His sister was Vice President during Mr. Abinader’s administration. His son is a legislator of the Modern Revolution party he helped found.

The statement from Mr. Mera’s family said that Cruz had been his best friend since childhood and that he had been shot several times.

The Dominican Republic Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Orlando Jorge Mera. Photo: BBC

“Our family forgives the person who did this. One of the Orlando family’s greatest legacies is not holding a grudge,” the statement said.

Police and emergency responders rushed to the office of the Dominican Republic Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in the capital, Santo Domingo, and imposed a ban on entry. Minister Mera’s office is located on the 4th floor of the building that also houses the Department of Tourism of the Dominican Republic.

“We are concerned about the situation” – the Dominican Republic Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment briefly announced.

Bartolomé Pujals, executive director of the government’s renewal cabinet, also expressed grief at the loss, saying: “His death was a tragedy…We Dominicans must work together. to reach a peace treaty, to live together peacefully. No more violence.”