Ismael Villagómez, a Mexican photojournalist, was shot and killed while working a second job in Ciudad Juárez, a notoriously violent border city in Mexico, on Nov. 16, according to prosecutors. His body was discovered at around 1:30 a.m. in his gray Hyundai Elantra in the Fronteriza Alta neighborhood, where he had been working as a ride-share driver. Authorities and his employer said that Mr. Villagómez had been working as a journalist for El Heraldo de Juárez before his deadly shift as a ride-share driver.
Following his death, three suspects have been arrested and were being questioned by authorities on Thursday. The Chihuahua Attorney General’s Office stated that Villagómez had suffered a gunshot wound near his left eye and that his cellphone was missing from his vehicle.
Villagómez’s death has sparked significant concern and sorrow among his colleagues, friends, and fellow journalists, particularly given the high number of attacks against the press in Mexico. According to Article 19, there was a documented attack against the press in Mexico every 13 hours in 2022. His death, along with others in the profession, has been condemned by various journalism and press freedom organizations, calling for thorough investigations and efforts to protect journalists.
Ciudad Juárez has been widely known for its drug cartels, turf battles, and criminal activities, resulting in a high level of violence in the region. Villagómez’s death is the latest in a string of journalist killings in Mexico, signifying the continued dangers faced by members of the media in the country.
Villagómez’s tragic death is a poignant reminder of the deadly risks that many journalists encounter in Mexico, where violence against the press has been a longstanding and pressing issue.