Dominican environment minister shot dead in his office

SANTODOMINGO -The Dominican Republic’s atmosphere minister, Orlando Jorge Mera, was shot useless in his workplace on Monday, authorities mentioned.

A spokesman for the president’s workplace, Homero Figueroa, mentioned in a video posted to Twitter on Monday afternoon that a suspect, recognized as Miguel Cruz, was arrested.

Figueroa mentioned Cruz was a childhood buddy of the minister, with out giving a possible motive for the assault.

Workers on the Ministry of Surroundings and Pure Assets informed journalists that they heard a minimum of seven photographs from throughout the constructing. Police items arrived on the scene shortly after.

Mera, a 55-year-old lawyer, was the son of former President Salvador Jorge Blanco, who was in workplace from 2002 to 2006.

He's survived by his spouse, Patricia Selma Villegas, and his two youngsters. His son, Orlando Jorge Villegas, is a federal legislator and member of the Trendy Revolutionary Occasion.

The president and the federal government have made themselves out there to the minister’s household, Figueroa mentioned.