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Seventh journalist killed in Mexico in 2026 so far
MEXICAN journalist Francisco Alejandro Leyva was shot dead on 22 July in the municipality of San Pablo Etla, in the state of Oaxaca. His was the seventh killing of a journalist in Mexico in 2026 so far and came just six days after the previous assassination. These do not look like killings by unofficial criminals: almost all had reported receiving threats from the authorities.
Francisco Alejandro Leyva
On 14 July 2025 Leyva filed a complaint with the Oaxaca State Human Rights Ombudsman's Office, after receiving death threats in phone calls by unidentified individuals. The complaint linked these threats to a smear campaign from media outlets and online accounts, which followed statements in official press conferences held by Oaxaca governor Salomón Jara, presented as a way to refute information the state government considered false or misleading.
Leyva said he held the state government responsible for the campaign. Two days later he filed a criminal complaint against the state governor.
The other journalists known to have been killed in the country in the year to date are, with links to reports from Reporters Without Borders:
Josué Martínez Contreras
Josué Martínez Contreras, of Noticias San Martín Texmelucan, was killed on 16 July 2026. Earlier this year he said he had been threatened by local authorities over his reporting of mismanagement of the water supply.
Manuel Alejandro Moreno Serna
Manuel Alejandro Moreno Serna (“Alex Serna”), of Observatorio Ciudadano de la Costa Grande, was killed on 3 July 2026. He was reported missing on 20 June and a few days later Al Punto Guerrero released an audio recording, apparently of him pleading for help and saying he was being held captive in retaliation for exposing serious environmental damage.
Luis Ángel López Valdez
Luis Ángel López Valdez, director of Reportaje Policiaco Veracruzano, was murdered on 11 June 2026. He had been enrolled in the state protection scheme following the murder of his colleague Carlos Castro in January, but was targeted by an armed group while driving his car.
Roxana Guzmán Ramírez
Roxana Guzmán Ramírez, of Pulso Informativo del Sureste, was abducted on 2 June 2026 and her body was found at the end of June. Those arrested in connection with her murder include four municipal police officers from Ixhuatlan del Sureste.
The scene of the shooting of Juan David Gámez
Juan David Gámez, of online outlet Táctica SS, was killed on 18 March 2026. It is reported that he had been threatened following his reporting of security and road safety issues.
Carlos Castro
Carlos Castro, of Código Norte de Veracruz, was killed on 8 January 2026. He had been placed under state protection after receiving threats from by municipal police officers over his reporting of security issues, but the measures were suspended in 2024 after authorities decided that the risk he faced had “subsided”.
IFJ condemns murder of three journalists nuj.org.uk