John Jairo Velasquez killed over 250 people and masterminded the deaths of 3,000 more while serving as the top hitman for drug kingpin Pablo Escobar during the 1980s. [2], Jhon Jairo Velásquez Vásquez was born in the municipality of Yarumal, and Antioquia, Colombia. He called the son a “bad man with an evil heart.”. ", "Polémica de "Popeye" al mostrar video donde dispara un arma en calles de Medellín", "Video de Popeye en Instagram disparando arma", "Pablo Escobar's hired killer 'robbed in Colombia, "Por problemas de salud, alias Popeye fue trasladado a cárcel La Picota", "Popeye padece cáncer terminal de esófago", Pablo Escobar's former hitman "Popeye" has died at 57, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jhon_Jairo_Velásquez&oldid=988709135, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2020, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 14 November 2020, at 20:17. It was in the navy that he acquired the nickname Popeye, for his wide jaw and strength. Aries Criminal #7. A Netflix series, “Surviving Escobar,” was adapted from one of his books. After his release on parole in 2014, he achieved celebrity by posting dozens of videos on his YouTube channel, called Popeye Arrepentido (Remorseful Popeye), which had more than 1.2 million subscribers. On December 12, 2016, a video appeared in which Velásquez brandishes and fires a handgun in the streets of Medellín. Learn about Jhon Jairo Velásquez: his birthday, what he did before fame, his family life, fun trivia facts, popularity rankings, and more. He was 78. Living in luxury, Mr. Escobar ran his drug business from the jail but escaped months later. Imprisoned on charges of extortion in 2018, he had been hospitalized since Dec. 31 with late-stage stomach cancer. He was a … They were lying in bed one day when the phone rang and on the other end was Pablo Escobar. Jhon Jairo Velasquez, aka Popeye, Pablo Escobar's top hitman, in 2018. Jhon Jairo Velásquez, also known as "Popeye," died on February 6 at the National Institute of Cancer in Bogotá, Colombia, the National Penitentiary and Prison Institute (INPEC) said in a … He resigned, he told RT in 2017, because the navy “only had old wooden boats and no warships.”. [5] He also admitted to arranging over 3,000 killings. Jhon Jairo Velásquez Vásquez (April 15, 1962 – February 6, 2020), also known by the alias "Popeye" alias “”jj”” was a Colombian hitman[1] who was part of the criminal structure of the Medellín Cartel until his surrender to the Colombian justice system in 1992. “This is the biggest lie ever,” Roberto said. 8 Pablo Escobar's top hitman Jhon Jairo Velasquez, aka Popeye, pictured, has died Credit: AFP or licensors [15] He was working on a TV series based on his own life and his involvement in the Medellín Cartel, and starred in season 3 of the Netflix series Narcos. He was featured in the 2018 documentary series premiere of Dark Tourist. Popeye Pablo Escobar was born as Jhon Jairo Velasquez on April 15, 1962, in 70 miles north of Medellin in the Colombian town of Antioquia Colombia. Jhon Jairo Velásquez, known by his nickname Popeye, died at the National Cancer Institute in Bogota, where he had been hospitalized since late December, according to … Controversy continued to swirl around Velásquez following his release from prison. ... DEATH DATE Feb 6, 2020 (age 57) Popularity . In a later interview he said he did not hesitate to kill Wendy when Escobar proved (by intercepting her phone) that she was using Popeye to find Escobar and kill him. He said Mr. Escobar was “a genius — an evil genius, but a genius anyway.”. He started working for Mr. Escobar when he was around 17. In 2008, he was sentenced to twelve years for other judicial proceedings against him. “I only wanted to shoot, kill and get adrenaline kicks,” he said. I'm waiting". A woolly monkey holds the hand of the director of the Maikuchiga foundation, Jhon Jairo Vasquez, in Leticia, Colombia Photo: AFP / Raul ARBOLEDA. Jhon Jairo Velásquez Vásquez Passed Away | Jhon Jairo Velásquez Vásquez Obituary Jhon Jairo Velásquez Vásquez popularly known as Popeye was born on April 15, 1962 and he died on February 6, 2020. Jhon Jairo Velásquez Vásquez (April 15, 1962 – February 6, 2020), also known by the alias "Popeye" alias “”jj”” was a Colombian hitman who was part of the criminal structure of the Medellín Cartel until his surrender to the Colombian justice system in 1992. “Taking up arms is always an option,” he said. General Santander National Police Academy, "El ex jefe de sicarios de Pablo Escobar seguirá en prisión al menos hasta 2016 (Spanish). [12] In the video, Velásquez proudly states, "Hello, warriors, I'm here in the streets of my beloved Medellín, testing out my beautiful 9mm Pietro Beretta. In these videos, he critiqued various topics in Colombia such as a corrupt government and socioeconomic hardships. Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar's former chief hitman Jhon Jairo 'Popeye' Velasquez has died of cancer today at the age of 57. Jhon Jairo 'Popeye' Velasquez Dies Of Cancer At 57 (Pics) by Explorers(m): 11:39pm On Feb 06 Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar's former chief hitman Jhon Jairo 'Popeye' Velasquez has died of cancer today at the age of 57. It has been claimed that he was blackmailing former associates of Pablo Escobar who were still in control of some of his assets. He also said it was the second time he had been targeted in such a way but he had not reported the incidents. He said he could hear her high heels coming towards the phone and then the shooting. A former hitman who killed hundreds of people for the late drug lord Pablo Escobar has died following a short battle with cancer. Velasquez, known as “Popeye,” was Pablo Escobar’s top assassin who confessed that he personally killed about 300 people and ordered hits on 3,000 more in the 1980s. News18. Mr. Velásquez joined Mr. Escobar when the drug lord agreed in 1991 to be held in a resortlike prison, La Catedral, which he had his own engineers design. According to the Colombia’s National Penitentiary and Prison Institute (INPEC) confirmed on Thursday the death of Velasquez, nicknamed “Popeye,” who was hospitalized over a month ago for stomach cancer. Under Mr. Escobar’s orders, Mr. Velásquez said, he kidnapped, tortured or murdered journalists, judges, politicians and rivals. Mr. Velásquez, who boasted of murdering hundreds of people for Pablo Escobar, in recent years had built a business around the memories of his criminal activities. Velásquez performs in a 2019 film, X Sicario – Pablo Escobar's Hitman; he played Simon, the most feared hitman who worked for Pablo Escobar. There is actually a movie series about him, telling his story shortly after Pablo’s death.....too bad I can’t recollect the name again but it’s … THE chief assassin of drugs lord Pablo Escobar, Jhon Jairo Velazquez has died aged 57. Velásquez was then given a choice: "love or death, money or lead (plata o plomo)". 28 minutes ago. His parents moved to Itagui, a suburb of Medellin when he was 12 years of age. FILE - In this June 27, 2006 file photo, Jhon Jairo Velasquez, a former hit man for Pablo Escobar, known by his nickname "Popeye," gives his testimony while holding a … Within this structure he claimed to be a lieutenant commanding half of the sicarios. Velásquez died at the National Cancer Institute in the capital Bogotá, where he had been receiving treatment for stomach cancer since December. Some of those close to Mr. Escobar have challenged Mr. Velásquez’s self-promotion. At age of 52, he was released on August 26, 2014 after 23 years and 3 months in prison. 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