Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar is shot and killed by police in Medellín.

Pablo Escobar was a notorious Colombian drug lord who gained infamy as the leader of the Medellín Cartel, one of the most powerful and dangerous drug cartels in the world during the late 20th century. He was born on December 1, 1949, in Rionegro, Antioquia, Colombia, and was raised in Medellín.

Escobar started his criminal career by engaging in small-scale criminal activities, including stealing tombstones and selling fake lottery tickets. However, he soon turned to more lucrative ventures, such as smuggling and distributing cocaine. The Medellín Cartel, founded in the 1970s, became a major player in the global drug trade, dominating the cocaine market and trafficking large quantities of the drug to the United States and other countries.

Escobar was known for his ruthlessness and willingness to use violence to eliminate rivals and law enforcement officials. He was responsible for the deaths of thousands of people, including politicians, police officers, and civilians. His influence extended beyond the drug trade, as he became involved in politics and gained support by funding social programs and infrastructure projects in Colombia.

The Colombian government, with the assistance of the United States, launched efforts to capture Escobar and dismantle the Medellín Cartel. Escobar’s life on the run became the subject of intense international attention. He surrendered to Colombian authorities in 1991 under an agreement that allowed him to build his own prison, known as “La Catedral,” where he continued to run his criminal operations.

In 1992, Escobar escaped from La Catedral after the Colombian government attempted to transfer him to a more conventional prison. A manhunt ensued, and he was eventually located and killed by Colombian law enforcement in December 1993 in a rooftop shootout in Medellín.