Mexico Photojournalist Found Shot to Death in His Car

In the early hours of Thursday, Ismael Villagomez, a Mexico photojournalist for El Heraldo de Juarez, was tragically killed while working as a ride-share driver in Ciudad Juarez, according to Reuters.

The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m., and local authorities reported that Villagomez was shot and killed in his vehicle.

Ciudad Juarez, notorious for its high levels of violence due to drug cartel activities, has been a challenging environment for journalists for nearly two decades.

Villagomez, who often worked beyond his role at El Heraldo, utilized the ride-hailing platform inDrive after completing his newspaper assignments.

According to local prosecutor Carlos Manuel Salas, Villagomez typically worked late hours, extending into the early morning.

While investigators have not immediately established a connection between his killing and his profession, three suspects have been apprehended, and inDrive is cooperating with the ongoing investigation.

Motive for Killing Mexico Photojournalist Is Unclear

The motive behind Villagomez's murder remains unclear, ABC News noted.

Ciudad Juarez has long been plagued by drug cartels, and journalists often face threats for covering their activities or publishing images related to their turf battles.

Salas stated that authorities are exploring whether Villagomez had a fare at the time of the incident or if the killing was linked to his work as a photographer.

The prosecutor emphasized the importance of considering Villagomez as a journalist around the clock, noting that his cell phone was missing from the crime scene.

The Committee to Protect Journalists urgently called for a thorough investigation into the killing, highlighting the continuous dangers faced by journalists in Mexico.

In 2022 alone, there was a documented attack against the press in Mexico every 13 hours, according to advocacy group Article 19.

Jose Ramon Ortiz, the director of El Heraldo de Juarez, expressed concern and called for clarity regarding the motive behind Villagomez's death, whether it was related to journalism or another factor.

"We don't want this to be like what has happened with the deaths of other journalists. We want, whether the motive was journalistic or related to something else, to have clarity," Ortiz said.

Mexico: A Dangerous Place for Journalists

The tragic death of Mexico photojournalist Ismael Villagomez marks the fifth instance of a journalist killed in Mexico in 2023, AP reports.

In a previous incident in September, journalist Jesús Gutiérrez lost his life in the crossfire of an attack aimed at police in San Luis Rio, Colorado.

The prosecutor's office in Sonora deemed Gutiérrez's death "collateral" to the attack on the police.

Mexico has become one of the deadliest places for journalists outside of war zones, with at least three other journalists killed in 2023 and 52 documented journalist killings in the past five years.

The grim statistics highlight the alarming trend of violence against journalists in Mexico, making it one of the most perilous places globally for those in the profession.

The past year alone saw 15 journalists killed, solidifying Mexico's position as the second deadliest country for journalists after Ukraine.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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