Gunmen on Thursday fatally shot a journalist in eastern Mexico, marking the first documented killing of a media worker in the country in 2026 and underscoring the persistent threats faced by the press in the region.

The victim has been identified by local Mexican press outlets as Carlos Castro, a seasoned crime reporter and director of the online news outlet Código Norte Veracruz.

Castro, who also contributed to other regional media platforms, was gunned down around 7 p.m. local time while at a restaurant in Poza Rica, a city in the northern part of the Gulf-coast state of Veracruz.

Shooting Details and Official Response

According to local authorities and initial police reports:

• Armed assailants entered the establishment and opened fire directly on Castro before fleeing the scene.

• Emergency responders and law enforcement — including elements of the Policía Municipal, the State Secretariat of Public Security (SSP), and the National Guard — arrived promptly to secure the area, collect forensic evidence and interview witnesses.

• At the time of reporting, no arrests have been made and the identities of the attackers remain unknown.

The State Commission for the Attention and Protection of Journalists publicly condemned the murder and urged a thorough and transparent investigation into the motives behind the killing.

Authorities reiterated their commitment to journalists’ safety, though Castro’s death highlights ongoing challenges in protecting media workers.

Context: Danger to Journalists in Mexico

Mexico has long been regarded as one of the most perilous countries in the world for journalists, with dozens of media workers killed over the past decade in connection with their reporting — particularly those covering crime and corruption.

Local press organisations and international watchdogs have repeatedly documented systemic violence against reporters, often tied to organised crime, political pressures, and entrenched impunity.

Past cases include the killings of journalists in various states such as Guerrero, Michoacán and Zacatecas, where reporters were shot or ambushed while on duty.

Reaction From Press and Advocacy Groups

Journalists’ unions, media rights advocates and press freedom organisations have expressed outrage at the latest killing, calling on Mexican authorities to:

• Swiftly identify and prosecute those responsible;

• Improve protection mechanisms for reporters under threat;

• And ensure that crimes against journalists are not treated with impunity.

A spokesman for a local reporters’ association said Castro’s murder adds to a growing climate of fear, particularly among journalists covering public security and organised crime issues in Veracruz and neighbouring regions.