Dominican Republic Minister Shot Dead by Childhood Friend Who Surrenders After Confessing Crime to Priest

A Dominican Republic minister was killed inside his office on Monday, and the murderer was his childhood friend.

According to Daily Mail, Orlando Jorge Mera, the country's minister of the environment and natural resources, was shot by his childhood friend, Miguel Cruz, who immediately fled the scene.

Authorities said the killing took place in Jorge Mera's fourth-floor office in the capital of Santo Domingo, Al Jazeera reported. Local media reported that at least seven shots were heard, and police and emergency personnel quickly swarmed the crime scene.

Dominican Republic's National District Mayor Carolina Mejía was reportedly inside the building and walking towards the minister's office for a scheduled meeting. When her security heard the shots, Mejia was turned away from an elevator and escorted out.

The motive for Jorge Mera's shooting remained unclear, BBC reported. Hours before he was shot dead, Jorge Mera paid tribute to Sofia Sanchez, a former lawmaker under the Dominican Revolutionary Party who passed away on Sunday.

"I have known Sofía Leonor Sánchez Baret for many years... Political, honest, democratic, and supportive. Rest in peace," Jorge Mera tweeted.

Dominican Republic Minister's Friend Confessed Crime to a Priest in Church

Miguel Cruz, who shot the Dominican Republic minister, reportedly sought refuge at a church in Santo Domingo after committing the crime.

A spokesperson for the Jesus Christ High and Eternal Priest Parish told a local news outlet that Miguel Cruz walked into the church and confessed to a priest what he did.

"I came here because I just killed a person," Cruz reportedly told the priest. Several officials extended their condolences to Orlando Jorge Mera's family.

"I deeply regret the death of my good friend, our minister, Orlando Jorge Mera. My most sincere condolences to his wife Patricia and his children Orlando and Patricia Victoria," Dominican Republic's President Luis Abinader tweeted.

Bartolomé Pujals, executive director of the government's Cabinet of Innovation, also lamented the killing.

"His death is a tragedy... We Dominicans have to come together to achieve a pact for peace and peaceful coexistence. No more violence," Pujals noted.

In a brief statement, Jorge Mera's ministry said they were "troubled by the situation."

Family of the Dominican Republic Minister Opens up About the Killing

The family of Orlando Jorge Mera has opened up about the Dominican Republic minister's killer. In a statement, the family described Miguel Cruz as "a childhood friend whom Jorge Mera received in his office."

The family added that they forgive "the person who did this." They said one of Jorge Mera's "greatest legacies was to not hold grudges."

Jorge Mera came from a powerful political family in the Dominican Republic. He is the son of former President Salvador Jorge Blanco, who ruled the country from 1982 to 1986.

Jorge Mera's sister, Dilia Jorge, is a vice minister in the Innovation, Transparency, and Citizen Attention Ministry. His wife is the ambassador to Brazil.

Jorge Mera's son, Orlando Salvador Jorge, is a lawmaker for the governing Modern Revolutionary Party, of which the 55-year-old minister is a founding member.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Dominican Republic Minister Killed in His Office - From Associated Press