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Mexico: Journalist Shot Dead While Covering Police Beat

Published January 9, 2026, 07:17
Mexico: Journalist Shot Dead While Covering Police Beat

A journalist, Carlos Castro, was murdered on Thursday in eastern Mexico while covering police matters for the local news agency Código Norte Veracruz. His murder has been condemned and has highlighted Mexico as one of the most dangerous countries for the press. Castro was shot and killed by armed men while in a restaurant in the town of Poza Rica. The State Commission for the Protection of Journalists condemned the murder and called for a thorough investigation. Mexico has been identified as one of the most dangerous countries for journalists, with more than 150 professionals murdered since 1994. Many of the journalists who were attacked worked in areas plagued by organized crime and in small media outlets or on social media, generally in precarious employment positions. The state of Veracruz, where the murder took place, has been a scene of violence linked to various criminal organizations competing for control of drug trafficking routes for years. This case is expected to heighten concerns about the safety of journalists in Mexico.