Josué Martínez Contreras, director of Noticias San Martín Texmelucan, was confirmed dead Friday after two men on a motorcycle shot him near his home in San Lucas Atoyatenco on Thursday; no arrests have been made.
An 8-month-old video circulating after the killing showed Martínez warning of threats from local authorities tied to his reporting on illegal water infrastructure, misused public funds and municipal irregularities.
Reporters Without Borders and the International Federation of Journalists said the murder fits a broader pattern of harassment, urged federal prosecutors to join the Puebla probe and called for protection for his family and newsroom.
Martínez is the sixth journalist killed in Mexico this year and the third in a month, following the confirmed deaths of Roxana Guzmán and Alex Serna, whose cases also drew international condemnation and scrutiny of Mexico's protection system.
With six journalists killed in 2026, has Mexico's government completely lost the war on its press?
After exposing water corruption, a journalist was murdered. Will the officials he accused finally face an investigation?
Six Journalists Killed in Six Months: The Assassination of Josué Martínez Contreras and Mexico’s Escalating Crisis for Press Freedom
Overview
On July 16, 2026, Josué Martínez Contreras was assassinated, prompting an immediate and comprehensive investigation by government authorities. The case was quickly taken up by the cabinet and investigators, who maintained direct communication with the governor to ensure all necessary inquiries were pursued. A key piece of evidence—a video posted by Martínez Contreras himself on the day of the attack—surfaced on social media and is now central to the investigation. Authorities are examining the content and implications of this video, as well as the history of threats Martínez Contreras faced, to uncover the full circumstances behind his targeted killing.