José Andrés Gustavo Aponte, a third-generation businessman in the rice sector, was killed on February 11 in northern Bogotá along with his bodyguard. The armed attack took place at 3:45 p.m. in the La Cabrera area, shortly after a police patrol. Aponte played a key role in expanding Arroz Sonora and supported educational initiatives.
José Andrés Gustavo Aponte, born in 1979 and deceased in 2026, was a third-generation entrepreneur whose family acquired Arroz Sonora in 1993. From that point, they drove an expansion process that established the company as one of the strongest in Colombia's rice market.
On February 11, 2026, Aponte was shot while leaving a gym at the intersection of Calle 85 and Carrera 7, in the upscale La Cabrera neighborhood of northern Bogotá. The attack happened at 3:45 p.m., just ten minutes after local police conducted their patrol in the area. His bodyguard also died in the same incident, described as a targeted hit.
According to the latest rice promotion quota data as of 2024, Arroz Sonora purchased 298,712 tons of paddy rice from producers, ranking third nationally, behind only Diana and Organización Roa Florhuila.
Beyond his business role, Aponte served on the board of directors of the Fundación Gustavo Aponte Rojas. The foundation focuses on providing education to children in vulnerable socioeconomic conditions, aiding development in challenging communities.
The killing has raised concerns in Bogotá's business community, though authorities have not disclosed details on potential motives or investigation progress so far.
