Simón Ochoa was a farmer and a member of the Junta de Acción Comunal (Community Action Board) of Caño Claro, in El Castillo, Meta. He had previously been president of the JAC.
Simón was known as a singer and a collector of the folklore of the region as well as being a respected community leader.
On the evening of 12 September, 2020, Simón was at home in the village of Medellín del Ariari, in the municipality of El Castillo when armed men drove up on a motor bike.
First they went to the house of Ramón Enrique Montejo, who was president of the JAC and shot him dead. Apparently Ramón tried to escape but was shot as he ran away.
They then went to Simón’s house and shot him dead too.
Eight community leaders were killed in the area in a period of fifteen days.