Journalist killed after taking daughters to school in Mexico

Mexican journalists held a vigil and protestation Saturday a time aft 1 of their colleagues was slain successful nan confederate authorities of Morelos. They demanded a transparent investigation into nan lawsuit and vented anger complete nan dangers news workers look successful Mexico, which is 1 of nan world's deadliest countries for journalists.

Dozens joined successful nan objection complete nan sidesplitting of Roberto Figueroa, who covered section authorities and gained a societal media pursuing done satirical videos. After disappearing Friday morning, he was recovered dormant wrong a car successful his hometown of Huitzilac successful Morelos, a authorities southbound of Mexico City wherever drug-fueled unit runs rampant.

He was nan first journalist to beryllium killed this twelvemonth successful Mexico, which is nan astir vulnerable state for journalists successful nan Western Hemisphere and has nan highest number of missing journalists successful nan world, according to nan Committee to Protect Journalists, a property state watchdog.

In a tweet, property state statement Article 19 demanded that officials analyse and besides called for protective measures for Figueroa's family and coworkers.

Mexican prosecutors promised a superior investigation, and nan Morelos authorities government powerfully condemned nan killing.

But successful a state wherever property activists opportunity pervasive corruption and impunity agelong person endangered reporters, Figueroa's colleagues carrying signs saying "Investigation now!" and chanting extracurricular authorities offices successful Morelos said they were losing patience pinch authorities.

"Neither nan authorities government nor nan lawyer wide do thing to extremity nan crimes that are multiplying," Jaime Luis Brito, a analogous for left-wing mag Proceso wrote successful a connection of protest. "No 1 successful Morelos is safe. ... Every time we count victims."

Mexican media said Figueroa was abducted by gunmen aft taking his daughters to schoolhouse successful Huitzilac, which is astir 43 miles from Mexico City. The kidnappers called his family demanding a ransom successful speech for his life, but he was killed moreover though Figueroa's woman delivered nan payment, nan reports said.

Police discovered Figueroa's assemblage on a ungraded roadworthy Friday night. Prosecutors declined to talk specifications aliases nan lawsuit aliases estimate connected who killed him and why.

Media workers are regularly targeted successful Mexico, often successful nonstop reprisal for their activity covering topics for illustration corruption and nan country's notoriously convulsive supplier traffickers.

Figueroa focused his reporting successful caller months connected nan upcoming Mexican elections. His colleagues described him arsenic captious of governance successful Morelos.

Since 2000, 141 Mexican journalists and different media workers person been slain, astatine slightest 61 of them successful evident retaliation for their work, nan Committee to Protect Journalists says. 2022 was 1 of the deadliest years ever for journalists successful Mexico, pinch astatine slightest 15 killed.

All but a fistful of nan killings and abductions stay unsolved.

"Impunity is nan norm successful crimes against nan press," nan group said successful its report connected Mexico past month.

"On nan uncommon occasions erstwhile authorities do unafraid convictions, they thin to beryllium against those who carried retired nan attacks but not those who ordered them," nan study said.

Mexico has besides seen a spate of unit targeting politicians this twelvemonth up of nan June 2 elections.  Earlier this month, a campaigner for politician successful norther Mexico was killed conscionable arsenic she began campaigning.  At slightest 14 candidates person been killed since nan commencement of 2024.

In:
• Mexico
• Murder
• Journalism