Getty ImagesA journalist lighting a candle at a vigil for murdered media staff in 2022A Mexican journalist who reported on violent crime has been killed whilst below police coverage.Unknown gunmen shot Alejandro Martínez as he was once travelling in a automotive with two safety guards within the central state of Guanajuato.Mr Martínez, who was once referred to as “The Son of the Lone Ranger”, died in health facility from the bullet wounds he sustained within the assault. Mexico is likely one of the global’s most threatening international locations for newshounds, with over 150 media staff killed since 1994, in keeping with marketing campaign workforce Newshounds With out Borders.Mr Martínez, who was once in his 50s, ran a well-liked information outlet on Fb, which has greater than 340,000 fans.He have been below police coverage after surviving a an identical assault on his lifestyles in 2022. Native government mentioned the attackers opened fireplace from a pickup truck at the automotive wearing the journalist and his bodyguards. Police assets advised AFP information company that the bodyguards returned fireplace however may just no longer save the reporter, who was once hit via a bullet within the head.A lady in every other automotive was once additionally struck and wounded via a stray bullet, assets mentioned.In an interview 3 years in the past, Mr Martínez mentioned he felt unbelievable ache and disappointment witnessing the wear accomplished to the area via expanding ranges of violence.Balbina Flores from Newshounds With out Borders in Mexico advised AFP that “he was once a journalist who was once in danger”.He have been assigned bodyguards below a federal programme for journalists who obtain dying threats, a central authority professional mentioned.His taking pictures is the most recent in a string of fatal assaults on newshounds. Previous this month, Federico Hans, a journalist within the the city of Caborca in northern Sonora state, was once shot and wounded as he were given into his automotive outdoor his house.And on 29 June, Víctor Culebro was once discovered useless alongside a freeway within the southern state of Chiapas.
