Mexico's journalist deaths continue to occur as the country recorded its 12th fatality of a media practitioner this year.

Antonio de la Cruz, a reporter for the local newspaper Expreso, was shot on Wednesday while leaving his house, The Guardian said, citing state prosecutors and the newspaper that employed him.

The tragic incident occurred in de la Cruz's home in Ciudad Victoria, located in northeastern Mexico, Al Jazeera reported. Ciudad Victoria is the capital of Tamaulipas.

The 43-year-old journalist was joined by her 23-year-old daughter on Wednesday when the shooting occurred, leaving her seriously injured. France 24 noted that de la Cruz's wife was also injured in the attack, but it was unclear how serious her injury was.

State Governor Francisco Cabeza da Vaca underscored that medical practitioners are "fighting to save the life" of de la Cruz's daughter.

He also emphasized that the recent gun attack on journalists will "not go unpunished."

Reports claim that 2022 is now the deadliest year on record for the members of Mexico's press.

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Mexico Journalist Deaths: AMLO Spokesperson Condemns Latest Attack

The spokesperson for President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Jesus Ramirez, said that officials should not allow more attacks on journalists and activists, echoing da Vaca's claim of punishing the latest attack on the country's press.

Media rights group Reporters Without Borders urged Mexico's authorities to carry out a probe into the murder to find out if de la Cruz's death was connected to his journalistic work.

Tamaulipas' state prosecutor's office stressed that the specialized unit for investigating crimes against freedom of expression was informed of the incident.

In addition, the federal prosecutor's office pointed out that it will open an investigation regarding the latest Mexico journalist killing.

Mexico Journalist Killings: Attack on Expreso Reporters

Antonio de la Cruz was a reporter for Expreso for almost three decades. He covered several beats for the newspaper, such as rural and social topics, as well as water shortages.

"He never expressed any concern to us," Expreso Director Miguel Dominguez said. 

Dominguez also described de la Cruz as "very aware" of Tamaulipas' reality and that he was "very brave."

Antonio de la Cruz was not the only Expreso journalist who experienced violence while doing their duty. In 2018, Expreso's journalist Hector Gonzales was beaten to death. 

Moreover, the local newspaper also experienced violent threats. In 2012, a car bomb exploded in front of the paper's offices. In 2018, a human head was delivered in a cooler with a note warning the publication on reporting the violence in the city.

Previously, Lopez Obrador has vowed "zero impunity" for the crimes against journalists in the country. However, Reporters Without Borders claimed on its website that AMLO has not taken the "necessary reforms to stop the spiral of violence against the press."

Attacks on Mexico's press have surged 85% in three years since AMLO took power on December 18. Likewise, Mexico journalist deaths became rampant, with at least seven killed last year and a dozen killed this year.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written By: Joshua Summers

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