As anti-government and pro-government protesters continue to clash in the streets of Venezuela, the escalating political unrest in the South American country claimed the life of a fifth victim on Wednesday.
According to the country’s daily El Universal, beauty queen Génesis Carmona died after being shot in the head during Tuesday’s nationwide protests.
“We confirm that Miss Tourism Carabobo Genésis Carmona has passed away from a gunshot to the head, while protesting yesterday in #Valencia,” reads the newspaper’s tweet.
The 22-year-old student and beauty queen took part in the anti-government protests happening in Valencia, the capital of the northern state of Carabobo. Her death was also confirmed via the Miss Carabobo organization's official Facebook page.
“We deeply lament to have to say that our Génesis Carmona has just passed away after receiving a gunshot to the head yesterday. Our condolences to her family.”
Carmona’s death is the fifth fatality of the massive political protests that began in the South American country over two weeks ago. According to NBC News, three people were shot and another run over by a car during a demonstration in Carupano.
Carmona was crowned Miss Tourism Carabobo 2013 at the age of 21. At the time of her death, she was finishing her studies in Social Sciences at the Universidad Tecnológica del Centro de Valencia (UNITEC) and was also a professional model.
After receiving the gunshot to her head, Carmona was rushed to the hospital and placed in the Intensive Care Unit at the Guerra Méndez clinic in Valencia.
“This is how they took Génesis Carmona [to the hospital],” reads the tweet.
Last week, Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro ordered police to arrest opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez. Maduro blames Lopez for inciting violence during anti-government demonstrations.
Lopez willingly turned himself over to the police on Tuesday. According to Reuters the 42-year-old Harvard-educated economist told his supporters "I have nothing to hide" before his arrest.
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