A Mexican crime reporter, Luis Ángel López Valdez, has been shot dead in Veracruz, in the latest attack on journalists in the violence-hit country.
The attack occurred in Poza Rica, Veracruz, a violence-prone state in eastern Mexico that is widely regarded as one of the highest-risk areas for members of the press due to ongoing drug-related criminal activity.
His employer, Vanguardia de Veracruz, confirmed the incident on Friday and called for justice, insisting that his death “does not go unpunished.”
According to the newspaper, López Valdez was killed early Thursday morning in Poza Rica after he was intercepted by armed men while driving.
It added that he had previously received threats linked to his reporting and was under local protection measures.
Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned the killing, saying, “As the country opened the 2026 FIFA World Cup, journalist Luis Ángel López Valdez of Vanguardia de Veracruz was murdered,” while urging an urgent investigation and stronger protections for journalists.
Similarly, freedom of expression organisation Article 19 called for a “diligent and expeditious” investigation into the killing.
The incident comes months after the January killing of journalist Carlos Castro in Veracruz and the reported kidnapping of journalist Roxana Guzmán, whose whereabouts remain unknown.
Observers say López Valdez’s death highlights the escalating risks faced by reporters in Mexico, where more than 150 journalists have been killed since 1994.
His killing has renewed calls for accountability and stronger protections for press freedom in a country where attacks on journalists frequently go unpunished.