Bogota  - Two Roman Catholic priests were killed by a former student at a boarding school for members of indigenous communities in the Colombian region of Vichada, the authorities said Tuesday in the area on the Venezuelan border.

The priests Gabriel Montoya, 40, and Jesus Jimenez, 45, were shot to death late Monday while they were in the Internet room of the school Mision La Pascua, in the jungle town of La Primavera.

Spokesmen for the religious community said Montoya had been the school's headmaster for seven years, while Jimenez was getting ready to succeed him in the position.

Police spokesmen said they have identified the killer, allegedly a former student. He had apparently entered the school to steal the money that had recently been raised during a bingo night.

Vichada Police commander Jorge Ramirez said the authorities would reward information leading to the suspect's capture with some 6,200 dollars.

Some 120 indigenous youths from several ethnic groups currently study at the school. (dpa)