Full Breakdown
Journalist Josue Martinez Killed in Puebla Drive-by Shooting
7/17/2026, 9:17:56 PM
Fatal Drive-by Shooting of Journalist Josue Martinez
A Mexican journalist who covered security issues was shot dead in a drive-by attack near his home in the central state of Puebla on Thursday. Josue Martinez, director of the local outlet Noticias San Martin Texmelucan and sometimes known as “The Jaguar,” was hit by two assailants on a motorcycle while his 13-year-old son called police. Martinez, a lawyer by training, had pivoted to journalism and focused on reporting crime and security in the region. The Puebla state government condemned the killing and asked prosecutors to launch a probe.
Context: Violence Against Mexican Journalists
Mexico remains one of the world’s most hazardous places for reporters. Reporters Without Borders notes that the country is “one of the most dangerous countries in the world to practice journalism.” A December 2025 RSF report recorded at least nine journalist deaths that year, ranking Mexico second globally for press-related killings. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Article 19 documented 13 journalist murders in 2022, the deadliest year on record, and a 2024 CPJ-Amnesty International study highlighted systemic failures to protect the press, describing impunity as the norm.
Official Responses
The Puebla state prosecutor’s office issued a statement promising a thorough investigation with a “reinforced focus on the protection of journalists.” Local authorities have pledged to exhaust “all lines of investigation.” Article 19, a journalists’ advocacy group, called for an urgent inquiry, citing Martinez’s reporting as a likely motive.
Criticism & Calls for Action
Press-freedom organizations have urged stronger safeguards. RSF demanded an “urgent investigation and stronger safeguards for the press,” while CPJ and Amnesty International reiterated that “impunity is the norm in crimes against the press.” Critics argue that repeated attacks underscore the government’s inability to shield journalists despite existing protection mechanisms.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The case will be investigated with a reinforced focus on the protection of journalists, and all lines of investigation will be exhausted,” — State prosecutor’s office
- “Impunity is the norm in crimes against the press,” — CPJ and Amnesty International
- “urgent investigation and stronger safeguards for the press.” — Reporters Without Borders
- “Journalists targeted in Mexico Mexico is one of the most dangerous countries in the world to practice journalism, according to media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF).” — Reporters Without Borders
