Sergio Orlando Leiva, known as "El Negro Sombra", was the most dangerous serial kidnapper in Argentina and was recently shot dead in Tigre, Buenos Aires Province. Although authorities have not yet confirmed the motive of the crime, it is suspected that it may be related to a drug dispute.
Leiva was serving a 34-year sentence for various crimes, including kidnappings and homicides. Originally, his sentences totaled 101 years in prison, but the Federal Oral Court 1 of San Martín recalculated and reduced the sentence to 34 years. In 2019, Leiva had been granted house arrest and was required to wear an electronic ankle bracelet until April 2031.
Despite being under house arrest in Tigre, it is said that he led an apparently normal and unrestricted life, despite the conditions imposed by the judiciary. On the day of his death, Leiva was shot in the Talar de Pacheco area, and although the police arrived at his home after the attack, doctors declared him dead on the scene due to gunshot wounds.
Neighbors, although reluctant to provide details, suggest that Leiva's fatal dispute may have been due to a settling of accounts related to drug trafficking. Among the most notorious cases that led to his conviction are the kidnappings of former football player Leonardo Astrada's parents, businessman Jorge "Corcho" Rodríguez, teenager Francisco Hahner, and Mirta Fernández.
