On August 4, 2025, Ernesto Cuitláhuac Vázquez Reyna, the Attorney General of the Republic (FGR) in Tamaulipas, was killed in a brazen daylight attack in Reynosa, a city located right on the U.S.-Mexico border. The incident occurred around 6:00 p.m. on Boulevard Miguel Hidalgo, near Plaza Engrei, when Vázquez was traveling in a black Cadillac Escalade accompanied by his security detail.
According to eyewitness accounts and video footage, the vehicle was intercepted by a convoy of armed assailants who launched a grenade into the SUV, causing it to ignite. As Vázquez attempted to flee the burning vehicle, he was shot multiple times by attackers who arrived in a second vehicle. A bystander tried to pull his body away from the flames, but Vázquez had already succumbed to his injuries.
The attack triggered widespread concern, with simultaneous roadblocks and gunfire reported in other parts of Reynosa. Authorities suspect the assassination may be linked to recent federal operations targeting organized crime and fuel theft in the region.
Governor Américo Villarreal condemned the killing, expressing solidarity with Vázquez’s family and pledging full cooperation with federal authorities. “We reiterate our total disposition to cooperate with the Fiscalía and the Government of Mexico in the pursuit of justice and the construction of peace,” Villarreal stated via social media.
The Tamaulipas State Prosecutor’s Office confirmed coordination with the FGR to investigate the attack. As of now, no suspects have been apprehended, and the motive remains under investigation. Vázquez had served as the federal prosecutor in Tamaulipas since 2019, playing a key role in high-impact investigations against organized crime. His death marks a significant escalation in violence against public officials in the region.
Source: Vanguardia
