These are the eleven journalists murdered so far this year in Mexico

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So far in 2022, 11 journalists have been murdered in Mexico in possible relation to their work.

The most recent cases are those of Yesenia Mollinedo, director of the portal El Veraz, and photojournalist Sheila Johana García, who were shot to death on May 9 in the state of Veracruz along the Gulf of Mexico.

While the victims’ families, Mexican journalists and journalism organizations continue to seek justice in each of these cases, the Mexican government only considers six of them to have been motivated by the victims’ work as journalists.

The government has ruled out the cases of journalists Roberto Toledo, killed in Zitacuaro, Michoacan, on Jan. 31, and Jorge “El Choche” Camero, killed in Empalme, Sonora, on Feb. 24.

Ricardo Mejía, the undersecretary of Public Security of Veracruz, said on Thursday that suspects in the murders of Mollinedo and García have already been identified.

Independent groups like Article 19 and the Committee to Protect Journalists have documented at least 153 murders of journalists in Mexico since 2000, not including three recent deaths.

Here are updates in the investigation of each journalist’s death:

Journalist José Luis Gamboa Arenas is murdered in Veracruz

José Luis Gamboa

He was found stabbed to death in the Port of Veracruz, Veracruz, on Jan. 10. Gamboa was the founder and editor of the news site Inforegio and was one of the founders and editors of the digital outlet La Noticia, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

As of May 12, no arrests had been made in his case.


Margarito Martínez

Relatives and friends of photojournalist Margarito Martínez mourn him during his burial at the Santa Gema cemetery in Tijuana, Baja California on Jan. 21, 2022.
Relatives and friends of photojournalist Margarito Martínez mourn him during his burial at the Santa Gema cemetery in Tijuana, Baja California on Jan. 21, 2022.

He was killed by a bullet to the head outside his home in Tijuana, Baja California, on Jan. 17. Martínez worked as a freelance photojournalist for local outlets such as Zeta Tijuana, La Jornada de Baja California and Cadena Noticias, according to the CPJ.

As of May 12, 10 people have been arrested, three of which had already been suspected of orchestrating and carrying out the assassination

RIP Lourdes Maldonado

Lourdes Maldonado

She was murdered outside her home in Tijuana, Baja California, on Jan. 23. Maldonado covered politics and corruption for different local outlets and had started a podcast called Brebaje, according to the CPJ.

Days before her death, she publically announced that after nine years she had won a case against former Baja California Gov. Jaime Bonilla. After Maldonado’s death, the governor defended himself and said that he was willing to cooperate with the authorities. So far, it is unknown if there is a line of investigation against him or if he has been called to testify in her murder.

As of May 12, three people have been arrested and are believed to be responsible for executing the journalist.


RIP Roberto Toledo

Roberto Toledo

He was shot just outside the building that houses the newsroom he worked for in Zitacuaro, Michoacan, on Jan. 31. Toledo was a writer and video editor at the news site Monitor Michoacán – the same outlet where Linares worked.

His homicide was ruled out by the Mexican government as being motivated by his journalistic work. According to reports from the Michoacan prosecutor’s office, Toledo worked in a law firm, not as a journalist. Linares denied that report and publically stated that Toledo was a regular contributor to the news outlet.

As of May 12, no arrests have been made in his case.


RIP Heber Lopez

Heber Fernando López

He was shot to death while entering his home in Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, on Feb. 10. López founded the news sites NoticiasWeb and RCP Noticias, according to the CPJ.

As of March 23, two people were arrested in connection to his murder.


Jorge ‘El Choche’ Camero

He was shot to death when he was inside a gym in Empalme, Sonora, on Feb. 24. Camero was the editorial director of the news site El Informativo.

As with the Toledo homicide case, the Sonora prosecutor’s office does not consider that Camero was murdered because he was working as a journalist.

As of May 12, no arrests have been made in his case.


Juan Carlos Muñiz was executed with a bullet to the head while he was behind the wheel of his old model Nissan Tsuru Taxi (Photo: OEM)

Juan Carlos Muñiz

He was killed when he was driving a taxi since he also worked as a driver in Fresnillo, Zacatecas, on March 4. Muñiz was a reporter for Testigo Miner, a local digital newspaper.

As of May 12, a suspect has been arrested.


RIP Armando Linares

Armando Linares López

He was shot by armed individuals who entered his home in Zitacuaro, Michoacan, on March 15. Linares was the director of the news site Monitor Michoacán.

Weeks before his murder, Linares had shared several videos on social media denouncing the murder of his colleague Toledo and the lack of protection provided to journalists by the Mexican government.

As of May 12, there have been no arrests, but prosecutors have identified the suspected murderers through videos of the incident.


RIP Luis Enrique Ramírez (Photo: Noroeste)

Luis Enrique Ramírez Ramos

He was beaten to death in Culiacán, Sinaloa, on May 5. His body was found on a dirt road wrapped in black plastic. Ramírez Ramos was a political columnist for the newspaper El Debate and director of the online news site Fuentes Fidedignas. He had more than 40 years of experience in some of the most important news outlets in the country, such as El Financiero and La Jornada.

As of May 12, suspects have been identified. No arrests have been made.


RIP Yesenia Mollinedo and Sheila García

Yesenia Mollinedo and Sheila Johana Garcia

Mollinedo and García were shot to death on May 9 outside a store in the municipality of Cosoleacaque, Veracruz. Mollinedo was the news director of the portal El Veraz, while García worked as a reporter and cameraman for the same outlet.

As of May 12, suspects have been identified. No arrests have been made.

Source: Publimetro

Mexico Daily Post