Shot to death of former president of the Supreme Court of Guatemala

The former president of the Supreme Court of Justice José Arturo Sierra died Friday after being attacked with bullets while traveling in his vehicle, authorities said.

A source from Roosevelt Hospital confirmed to Efe the death of Sierra at 13.15 local time (18.15 GMT), a few minutes after entering "with several bullet wounds" and not responding to the "resuscitation maneuvers."

The spokesman of the Municipal Traffic Police, Amílcar Montejo, told Efe that the events took place in zone 11 of the capital, when the ex-magistrate (2009-2014) was the victim of an armed attack.

For the time being, the authorities, who have already appeared at the scene to gather evidence, have not provided details of the incident or reported any arrests.

Sierra, born in the department of El Progreso on March 19, 1943, was a lawyer and notary who during his term as magistrate of the Supreme Court of Justice was president of the Judiciary, from October 2013 to October 2014.

He also served as magistrate of the Constitutional Court, the largest court in the country, between 1996 and 2001, after being nominated by the Superior Council of the University of San Carlos, a study center where he graduated in 1970 and where he served as director of Legal issues.

In his resume he also highlights being president of the Association of Lawyers and Notaries of Guatemala, member of the board of directors of the National Institute of Forensic Sciences and secretary of the Third Civil Peace Court, as well as a professor.