The Sound of Bullets: The Killing of Colombian Journalist Abelardo Liz

When journalist Abelardo Liz was shot during a confrontation between soldiers and protesters at a land rights demonstration in Colombia in August 2020 he did not immediately drop his camera or stop filming; he held on to it as he fell to the ground and then handed it to someone else so the filming could continue. The sound of the bullets recorded by Abelardo and by others at the scene provides new clues about the fatal shooting.The shooting lasted 67 seconds and when it ended three people had been shot, two fatally-including Abelardo.

Bellingcat and Cerosetenta have analysed the audio and video evidence, combined with autopsy and ballistic reports and soldiers’ testimonies and uncovered significant inconsistencies in the army’s account of events.