Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on Friday that federal authorities are investigating the murder of journalist Josu\u00e9 Mart\u00ednez Contreras, who was killed the previous day in Puebla. Mart\u00ednez Contreras, director of the digital news outlet Noticias San Mart\u00edn Texmelucan, was shot near his home on Thursday morning in the municipality of San Mart\u00edn Texmelucan. <\/p>\n
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\u2019s governor, Alejandro Armenta. However, she did not disclose details about the video\u2019s content or the investigation\u2019s progress. <\/p>\n
The video circulating on social media reportedly shows Mart\u00ednez Contreras accusing the municipal president\u2014Manuel Alonso Ram\u00edrez, affiliated with the Green Party\u2014of threatening him by phone. This allegation adds a complex layer to the case, highlighting the risks journalists face when reporting on local power structures. <\/p>\n
Paramedics who responded to the shooting confirmed Mart\u00ednez Contreras was already deceased at the scene. Security forces secured the area while the Puebla State Attorney General\u2019s Office opened an investigation. So far, no arrests have been made, and the motive remains unclear. <\/p>\n
The San Mart\u00edn Texmelucan municipal government expressed condolences to the journalist\u2019s family and friends, acknowledging his role in covering regional news. <\/p>\n
Press freedom organization Article 19 emphasized that Mart\u00ednez Contreras reported on security and high-impact events, urging both the state and federal prosecutors to conduct a \u201cprompt, thorough, independent, and impartial\u201d investigation. They also called for protective measures for his family and stressed that his journalistic work must be a priority line of inquiry. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
The case of Mart\u00ednez 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.<\/p>\n