On 27 May 2016 the neighbours in Sitiasma were celebrating the fact that Real Madrid had won the Champions League when their friend and neighbour Juan Carlos Recarte was shot dead. Juan Carlos had just returned from work and was relaxing in a hammock when suddenly, four armed assailants parked their van in front of the house and shot him dead. he was shot multiple times with high calibre weapons

Juan Carlos was the president of Santa Elena community and according to his wife Dunia Monroy Espinoza, the leader did not have any enemies. According to the neighbour Gloria de Montero, Recarte was a great person and hard worker who also brought supplies to the community. He also worked with a presidential programme called Vida Mejor (a better Life).