Orlando Jorge Mera speaks to media at his office. File

Gulf Today Report

The Minister of the Environment of the Dominican Republic, Orlando Jorge Mera was shot dead in his office.

According to local media, gunman burst into a weekly meeting at the ministry and opened fire at him, killing him on the spot..

The Ministry of the Environment has not offered official information about what happened but, in an official note, expressed the institution's "dismay" at the events that occurred.

Sources from the Ministry of the Environment of the Caribbean country quoted by local media that a total of seven detonations were heard in the office and that the attacker, who entered the room alone, escaped after firing the shots.

Ministry workers have been evacuated and several ambulances and police officers have arrived at the scene.

"From the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources we are dismayed by the situation presented this Monday morning, so far we do not have details of the situation that occurred in the ministry's facilities," a tweet read.

President Luis Abinader appointed Orlando the Minister of the Environment in August 2020.

After his appointment, he said that his mission was to work for proper environmental management and for compliance with the Constitution and laws, attached to transparency and public ethics.