gutiérrez nino de guzman proclaimed himself "supreme leader of the republic" and asked for the support of the armed forces. however, only some of the army agreed to support him, and the navy issued a statement on july 23 which made it clear that they would not support the new regime. the citizens of lima did not support gutiérrez either, and the situation soon became violent. on july 26, one of gutiérrez's brothers, silvestre, was assassinated while driving through the city. in retaliation, president gutiérrez ordered that balta be executed.