The shooting erupted minutes after Alva had been dismissed
En la tarde del viernes 30 de enero, la sede de una empresa eléctrica en el centro histórico de Trujillo se convirtió en escenario de una tragedia laboral: un supervisor de seguridad hirió a tres altos directivos antes de quitarse la vida, dejando a una comunidad entera preguntándose cómo el desamparo puede convertirse en violencia irreversible. Miguel Alva Cárdenas, de 55 años, habría actuado minutos después de ser despedido, aunque las causas oficiales permanecen bajo investigación. El suceso recuerda cuán frágil puede ser el hilo que sostiene la dignidad de una persona cuando siente que le han arrebatado su lugar en el mundo.
- Un hombre de 55 años, aparentemente recién despedido, abrió fuego contra sus superiores en plena sede corporativa en el centro de Trujillo, convirtiendo una tarde laboral ordinaria en una escena de crisis.
- Tres gerentes de alto rango —el director regional, el jefe de administración y finanzas, y el responsable de gestión de personal— resultaron heridos por disparos dentro del edificio.
- El tirador, Miguel Alva Cárdenas, fue hallado muerto en el lugar; la policía llegó rápidamente y aseguró la escena mientras los ejecutivos heridos eran trasladados para recibir atención médica.
- Los tres directivos se encuentran en estado estable, pero la investigación policial y la inspección laboral apenas comienzan a desentrañar las circunstancias exactas que desencadenaron la violencia.
- Hidrandina emitió un comunicado expresando condolencias y comprometiéndose a cooperar con las autoridades, mientras la ciudad aguarda respuestas sobre cómo y por qué ocurrió este desenlace.
El viernes 30 de enero por la tarde, la sede principal de Hidrandina en la avenida San Martín, en el centro histórico de Trujillo, fue sacudida por un tiroteo que dejó un muerto y tres heridos. Miguel Alva Cárdenas, supervisor de Seguridad Patrimonial de 55 años, disparó contra varios ejecutivos de la empresa antes de quitarse la vida. Según versiones extraoficiales, el hecho ocurrió minutos después de que Alva fuera despedido de su cargo, aunque las autoridades aún no han confirmado oficialmente los motivos.
Tres gerentes resultaron heridos: Juan Farías Lachira, director regional; Richard Ramos Verastegui, responsable de administración y finanzas; y Robert Pineda Martínez, jefe de gestión de personal. Los tres fueron atendidos médicamente y se reportaron en estado estable. Efectivos policiales de la Unidad de Emergencias y la División de Investigación Criminal acudieron al lugar, aseguraron la escena y comenzaron a revisar las cámaras de seguridad del edificio. Inspectores de la Superintendencia Nacional de Fiscalización Laboral también se hicieron presentes para documentar el incidente.
Hidrandina emitió un comunicado en el que lamentó la muerte de Alva, a quien llamó colaborador de la empresa, ofreció condolencias a los afectados y sus familias, y confirmó su plena cooperación con las autoridades. Alva Cárdenas era hijo de Miguel Alva Saldaña, exalcalde de la provincia de Contumazá, en la región Cajamarca. Al cierre de la información, la investigación policial continuaba en curso y los tres ejecutivos heridos permanecían bajo observación médica.
On the afternoon of Friday, January 30th, a security supervisor at Hidrandina's main office in Trujillo opened fire on company executives, wounding three of them before taking his own life. The shooting unfolded at the utility company's headquarters on San Martín Avenue in the historic center of Trujillo, in Peru's La Libertad region, leaving a single fatality and three injured.
Miguel Alva Cárdenas, 55, worked as the company's Patrimonial Security Supervisor. According to unofficial accounts, the shooting erupted minutes after Alva had been dismissed from his position, though authorities have not yet released an official statement confirming the circumstances that led to the violence. The company, which manages electrical service across Trujillo province, has not publicly detailed what prompted the incident.
Three senior managers were struck by gunfire. Juan Farías Lachira, the regional manager, was hit, as was Richard Ramos Verastegui, who oversaw administration and finances. Robert Pineda Martínez, the head of personnel management, was also wounded. All three were reported stable after receiving initial medical care.
Police units arrived quickly after the shots rang out and found the three executives injured inside the building. Alva Cárdenas was found dead. Officers from the Emergency Unit and the Criminal Investigation Division began securing the scene and collecting footage from the facility's security cameras. Labor inspectors from the National Labor Oversight Superintendency also arrived to document the incident.
In a statement released after the shooting, Hidrandina expressed regret over Alva's death, referring to him as a company collaborator. The utility firm offered condolences to those affected and their families, pledging support and coordination with authorities to clarify what had occurred. The company confirmed it was cooperating fully with police.
Alva was the son of Miguel Alva Saldaña, a former mayor of Contumazá province in the neighboring Cajamarca region. As of the time reporting concluded, police were still conducting their investigation at the Hidrandina office, and the three wounded executives remained under medical observation.
Notable Quotes
We express our solidarity with those affected and their families, and reiterate our commitment to provide necessary support, working in coordination with competent authorities to clarify what occurred.— Hidrandina company statement
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
What do we actually know about why this happened? The reports mention dismissal, but is that confirmed?
Not officially, no. Police and labor authorities are still investigating. What we have are unofficial accounts suggesting the shooting came minutes after Alva was let go, but the company hasn't released details, and there's no formal statement from investigators yet.
Three executives were shot. Were they targeted specifically, or was this indiscriminate?
The three who were hit—the regional manager, the finance chief, and the personnel head—those are senior positions. It suggests some deliberation, but we don't know if Alva had specific grievances with each of them or if they represented the company hierarchy to him.
What was his background? Was he known to have problems?
He was 55, worked in security at the company. His father was a former mayor in Cajamarca. Beyond that, there's almost nothing in the record yet about his history, his relationships at work, or any warning signs.
The company's response—did they seem defensive or genuinely cooperative?
Their statement was measured. They called him a collaborator, expressed regret, promised to work with authorities. But they offered no explanation of the dismissal, no context about what led to it. That silence is notable.
How are the three men doing?
Stable. They got medical attention quickly. The police response was fast enough that the situation didn't escalate further.