Julián de Jesús Areiza Moreno, 20, was a nephew of one of the leaders of the Movimiento Ríos Vivos Antioquia (MRVA), Rubén Areiza, a human rights defender and a local representative for  Alto Chirí y Chirí in Briceño.

There have been several attacks against the members of MRVA and their relatives, since this organization is part of a wider Colombian environmental movement called Movimiento Rios Vivos. Their main role is to fight against the “Hidroituango project”, one of the largest embankment dams in Latin America, which has been causing serious environmental damage and injuries to the citizens themselves.

On 22 September, 2018, Julián was shot dead by unknown men, in the Municipality of Briceño, Antioquia Department at approximately 9:30 pm, when he was coming back from a football match. Another person (a 17 year old teenager, who was with him) was injured and some people had to run away to avoid being shot.

Júlian’s relatives called on the authorities to initiate a proper investigation, however so far without result.