Journalist Josue Martinez killed near his home in Mexico, attack occurred in front of his son

Josue Martinez, a journalist who mainly covered public security issues, has been killed in Mexico’s Puebla state, once again drawing attention to violence against media workers in the country.

Martinez ran the Noticias San Martín Texmelucan news agency and mainly reported on crime and security issues. Press freedom organisation Article 19 called on authorities to treat his journalistic work as the main line of investigation into the murder.

Authorities in Puebla state condemned the killing and called for a full investigation to clarify the case.

Local media reported that the journalist was shot dead by two people riding a motorcycle, just a few metres from his home. His son was beside him at the time of the attack and immediately alerted police.

Known by the nickname “El Jaguar”, Josue Martinez had worked as a lawyer before dedicating himself to journalism. He was also part of the human rights association Cre-Arte.

Martinez’s murder comes just weeks after the death of journalist Roxana Guzmán was confirmed. She had been abducted from her home in Veracruz state. In June, independent journalist Luis Ángel López Valdés was also killed, despite being under the protection of authorities because of threats he had previously received.

According to Article 19, at least 10 journalists have been killed in Mexico since President Claudia Sheinbaum took office in October 2024. This places the country among the most dangerous in the world for journalists working outside war zones.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said that nine journalists were killed in Mexico during 2025. According to its data, at least 150 media workers have been murdered in the country since 1994.