Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on Friday that federal authorities are investigating the murder of journalist Josué Martínez Contreras, who was killed the previous day in Puebla. Martínez Contreras, director of the digital news outlet Noticias San Martín Texmelucan, was shot near his home on Thursday morning in the municipality of San Martín Texmelucan.

During her morning press conference from Quintana Roo, Sheinbaum said authorities are reviewing a video linked to the attack and are in communication with Puebla’s governor, Alejandro Armenta. However, she did not disclose details about the video’s content or the investigation’s progress.

The video circulating on social media reportedly shows Martínez Contreras accusing the municipal president—Manuel Alonso Ramírez, affiliated with the Green Party—of threatening him by phone. This allegation adds a complex layer to the case, highlighting the risks journalists face when reporting on local power structures.

Paramedics who responded to the shooting confirmed Martínez Contreras was already deceased at the scene. Security forces secured the area while the Puebla State Attorney General’s Office opened an investigation. So far, no arrests have been made, and the motive remains unclear.

The San Martín Texmelucan municipal government expressed condolences to the journalist’s family and friends, acknowledging his role in covering regional news.

Press freedom organization Article 19 emphasized that Martínez Contreras reported on security and high-impact events, urging both the state and federal prosecutors to conduct a “prompt, thorough, independent, and impartial” investigation. They also called for protective measures for his family and stressed that his journalistic work must be a priority line of inquiry.

This tragic event unfolds amid ongoing violence against the press in Mexico, a country considered one of the most dangerous for journalists outside war zones. Since Sheinbaum took office in October 2024, 11 reporters have been killed.

International watchdog Reporters Without Borders has documented over 150 journalists murdered and 28 disappeared in Mexico since 2000, while Article 19 reports 176 killed and 32 missing during the same period.

The case of Martínez Contreras underscores the urgent need for stronger protections for journalists and transparent investigations, especially in regions where local authorities are implicated in threats against the press.