Nelson Fabra Díaz was the leader of Cambio Radical and was standing as a candidate in the forthcoming elections in Arboletes. He had also been the president of the community action board, but e did not hold this position at the time of his death.

Fabra Díaz was shot dead on 5 May 2017, when two men on a motorcycle chased him in the Villa Luz in Córdoba, Colombia. He realised that he was being followed and took shelter in the house of a friend. After a while he thought the coast was clear and set off again. However they picked up his trail, followed him again and shot him twice.  He died instantly and it is unknown who killed him.

It has been reported that Fabra had received death threats because he was against the illegal logging in the area.