List of assassinations

This is a list of successful assassinations, sorted by location. For failed assassination attempts, see List of people who survived assassination attempts.

For the purposes of this article, an assassination is defined as the deliberate, premeditated murder of a prominent figure, often for religious, political or monetary reasons.

Africa

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The Americas

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Antigua and Barbuda

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Date Victim(s) Method Assassin(s) Notes
7 December 1710 Daniel Parke, British governor of the Leeward Islands Beating Several members of a mob. An angry mob captured Parke in his house, beat him severely, and dragged him out to die of his wounds.[1] His last words to his tormentors, as he lay dying, were reported as: "Gentlemen, you have no sense of honor left, pray have some of humanity."[2]

Argentina

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Bermuda

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Date Victim(s) Assassin(s) Notes
1973 Richard Sharples, Governor of Bermuda Erskine "Buck" Burrows and Larry Tacklyn Shot outside Bermuda's Government House. Sharples's aide-de-camp Captain Hugh Sayers was also killed.

Bolivia

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Brazil

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Canada

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Chile

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Colombia

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Costa Rica

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Date Victim(s) Assassin(s) Notes
23 August 1938 Ricardo Moreno Cañas, doctor and politician, and surgeon Carlos Echandi Beltrán Cortés Killed as revenge for a failed surgery the two doctors had operated on Cortes. Moreno was shot to death inside his home, while Echandi was shot to death outside his door. Cortes also killed Canadian Arthur Maynard that same day.[16][17]

Cuba

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Date Victim(s) Assassin(s) Notes
8 May 1935 Antonio Guiteras, Revolutionary Socialist leader

Curaçao

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Date Victim(s) Assassin(s) Notes
5 May 2013 Helmin Wiels, leader of the Sovereign People party. Elvis Kuwas

Dominican Republic

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Ecuador

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El Salvador

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Grenada

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Date Victim(s) Assassin(s) Notes
1983 Maurice Bishop, Prime Minister of Grenada Killed along with seven other politicians and businessmen in a coup that led to the United States invasion of Grenada a few days later
1983 Jacqueline Creft, Minister of Education and Women's Affairs and domestic partner of Prime Minister Maurice Bishop Killed along with Bishop and six other politicians and businessmen in a coup that led to the United States invasion of Grenada a few days later

Guatemala

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Guyana

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Date Victim(s) Assassin(s) Notes
18 November 1978 Leo Ryan, Member of the US House of Representatives Members of the Peoples Temple in Jonestown Shot to death in Guyana while investigating human rights violations by members of the Peoples Temple.
13 June 1980 Walter Rodney, Guyanese historian and political figure
22 April 2006 Satyadeow Sawh, Agriculture Minister Murdered along with his brother, sister and a security guard, by masked gunmen dressed in military fatigues

Haiti

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Honduras

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Date Victim(s) Assassin(s) Notes
1862 José Santos Guardiola, President of Honduras
1966 Maximiliano Hernández Martínez, former President of El Salvador
2008 Mario Fernando Hernández, deputy speaker of the National Congress for the Liberal Party
2016 Berta Cáceres, environmental and indigenous rights activist David Castillo, former military intelligence officer
2021 Francisco Gaitán, Mayor of Cantarranas Wilfredo Velásquez

Jamaica

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Date Victim(s) Assassin(s) Notes
17 April 1987 Carlton Barrett, musician, drummer, and member of The Wailers Shot by a gunman outside his home in Kingston. Barrett's widow, Albertine Barrett, was subsequently jailed in 1991, after being convicted of conspiracy to commit murder. Sentenced with her were taxi driver Glenroy Carter, her reputed lover, and Junior "Bang" Neil, a mason, who the prosecution alleged was responsible for the actual shooting.
11 September 1987 Peter Tosh, musician, songwriter, and member of The Wailers Armed gunmen led by Dennis "Leppo" Lobban Shot twice in the head after being held hostage and tortured for hours during an armed robbery attempt at his home in Kingston. Killed alongside herbalist Wilton "Doc" Brown and disc jockey Jeff 'Free I' Dixon. Several others in the house were wounded, including Tosh's common law wife Andrea Marlene Brown, Free I's wife Yvonne ("Joy"), Tosh's drummer Carlton "Santa" Davis, and musician Michael Robinson.
2 June 1999 Junior Braithwaite, musician, singer, and member of The Wailers Shot and killed along with fellow musician Lawrence Scott in Kingston

Mexico

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Nicaragua

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Date Victim(s) Assassin(s) Notes
21 February 1934 Augusto César Sandino, Nicaraguan revolutionary National Guard members led by Anastasio Somoza García
21 September 1956 Anastasio Somoza García, President of Nicaragua[14] Rigoberto López Pérez
10 January 1978 Pedro Joaquín Chamorro Cardenal, newspaper editor and anti-Somoza opposition leader
16 February 1991 Enrique Bermúdez, founder and former commander of the Contras

Panama

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Date Victim(s) Assassin(s) Notes
2 January 1955 José Antonio Remón Cantera, President of Panama Killed at racetrack by machine gun[22]
31 July 1981 Omar Efraín Torrijos Herrera, Maximum Leader of the Revolution and de facto leader of Panama Alleged to be the United States by Manuel Noriega and his attorney Likely killed in an aircraft accident by a radio detonated bomb –– but not confirmed. Much speculation has existed surrounding this incident, and few confirmed sources.
13 September 1985 Hugo Spadafora, guerrilla fighter and political activist Manuel Noriega (suspected)

Paraguay

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Date Victim(s) Assassin(s) Notes
12 April 1877 Juan Bautista Gill, President of Paraguay Killed in a plot instigated by Juan Silvano Godoi[citation needed]
31 December 1878 Cirilo Antonio Rivarola, former president of Paraguay
17 September 1980 Anastasio Somoza Debayle, exiled former president of Nicaragua 7 Sandinistas
23 March 1999 Luis María Argaña, vice president of Paraguay Ambushed[14]

Peru

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Suriname

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Date Victim(s) Assassin(s) Notes
8 December 1982 Bram Behr, journalist Victim of the December murders
8 December 1982 Eddy Hoost, former Minister of Justice and Police Victim of the December murders
8 December 1982 André Kamperveen, athlete and former minister Victim of the December murders
8 December 1982 Gerard Leckie, academic Victim of the December murders
8 December 1982 Surendre Rambocus, military officer Victim of the December murders

Trinidad and Tobago

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Date Victim(s) Assassin(s) Notes
1 December 1699 José de León y Echales, Spanish governor of Trinidad Killed during the Arena Massacre
1 August 1990 Leo Des Vignes, MP Killed during the Jamaat al Muslimeen coup attempt
10 June 1995 Selwyn Richardson, former Attorney-General
4 May 2014 Dana Seetahal, senator

United States

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Uruguay

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Date Victim(s) Assassin(s) Notes
19 February 1868 Bernardo P. Berro, former President of Uruguay
19 February 1868 Venancio Flores, former president of Uruguay
25 August 1897 Juan Idiarte Borda, President of Uruguay Avelino Arredondo Shot by a supporter of José Batlle y Ordóñez
23 February 1965 Herberts Cukurs, Latvian aviator and fugitive war criminal Mossad Killed for his role in the Holocaust in Latvia
10 August 1970 Dan Mitrione, U.S. Office of Public Safety advisor Tupamaros
15 November 1992 Eugenio Berríos, Chilean chemist who worked for the DINA during the Pinochet dictatorship Chilean Government Killed in Uruguay by Chilean secret services for "knowing too much".

Venezuela

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Asia

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Europe

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Oceania

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Australia

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New Caledonia

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Date Victim(s) Assassin(s) Notes
4 May 1989 Jean-Marie Tjibaou, Kanak independence leader Djubelly Wéa

New Zealand

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Date Victim(s) Assassin(s) Notes
5 February 1962 James Patrick Ward, barrister Unknown Killed by a parcel bomb. Assailant was never identified.

Samoa

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Date Victim(s) Assassin(s) Notes
16 July 1999 Luagalau Levaula Kamu, Minister of Public Works Eletise Leafa Vitale, son of the victim's disgraced predecessor Leafa Vitale

Palau

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Date Victim(s) Assassin(s) Notes
30 June 1985 Haruo Remeliik, President of Palau Unknown

Solomon Islands

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Date Victim(s) Assassin(s) Notes
20 August 2002 Augustine Geve, Minister for Youth, Women and Sports Ronnie Cawa, Francis Lela, Harold Keke

West Papua

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Date Victim(s) Assassin(s) Notes
26 April 1984 Arnold Ap, songman and ethnomusicologist Shot in back by an Indonesian military unit upon release from prison[47]
14 March 1996 Thomas Wainggai, Independence leader Allegedly poisoned by Indonesian intelligence officers in Cipinang prison.[47]
10 November 2001 Theys Eluay, West Papuan Independence movement leader Assassinated by Kopassus officers after attending a military dinner in Jayapura[47]
16 December 2009 Kelly Kwalik, West Papuan guerrilla leader Assassinated by Detachment 88 officers in Timika[47]
14 June 2012 Mako Tabuni, Chairman of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) Assassinated by Detachment 88 officers in Jayapura[48]

See also

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References

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