Alejandro Martínez was no stranger to danger. As a seasoned journalist covering crime scenes and fatal accidents in Celaya, a city in central Mexico plagued by violence, Martínez faced risks every day. Despite his experience and the security detail provided to him by the government, his life was tragically cut short on Sunday.
Martínez, 57, was killed by unknown gunmen shortly after finishing a Facebook livestream where he reported on a traffic accident. The incident occurred while he was being driven back to Celaya in a police vehicle. The gunmen, who approached in another car, opened fire on the vehicle. The two transit police officers accompanying Martínez were also injured in the attack.
In his final Facebook livestream, Martínez had bid farewell to his viewers with a casual and somewhat humorous remark, “Well, friends, I’m leaving now. I really thank you for your attention and for putting up with the nonsense I say.” These were to be his last words before he was ambushed and fatally shot.
Celaya’s Security Ministry confirmed that the officers rushed Martínez to a hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries shortly after. Local media reported that at least three bullet holes were found in the vehicle, underscoring the severity of the attack. An investigation is underway, led by forensic experts and prosecutors, to determine whether Martínez was the primary target or if the gunmen intended to attack the police officers.
Celaya’s Increasing Violence
Celaya, once a thriving and peaceful city in Guanajuato state, has descended into turmoil in recent years. The city, historically known for its vibrant auto industry and colonial architecture, has become a battleground between the Jalisco New Generation cartel and the local Santa Rosa de Lima cartel. This violent turf war has led to a surge in disappearances and homicides.
The region has been severely impacted, with at least 98 police officers killed across Guanajuato since the beginning of 2023, including 41 in Celaya alone. The violence has not spared journalists either. In June, the body of Víctor Manuel Jiménez Campos, another journalist from Celaya who had been missing since 2020, was discovered in a water well along with other remains.
Balbina Flores, Mexico’s representative to Reporters Without Borders, lamented the ongoing spiral of violence. “We are still living in a spiral of violence that has not stopped, that has trapped us for many years,” she said. “The big question that it leaves us with is, who protects us? Who protects journalists?”
The Dangerous Landscape for Journalists in Mexico
Mexico is recognised as one of the most perilous countries in the Americas for journalists, and globally, it ranks just behind active war zones in terms of danger for reporters. Since 2000, 166 journalists have been killed in Mexico in relation to their work, according to Article 19, a press freedom organisation.
Of these fatalities, 47 have occurred during the presidency of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who had pledged to end the killing of journalists on his first day in office. However, the violence has continued unabated. Critics argue that López Obrador’s administration has failed to address the issue adequately, often deflecting blame and attacking the press for its critical coverage.
Flores noted that Martínez was not the first journalist to be killed despite receiving government protection. Her organisation has documented at least 10 such cases, five of which occurred during López Obrador’s presidency.
Future Prospects and Government Response
In response to the ongoing violence, President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum has promised to revise Mexico’s protection policies for journalists. Her campaign included a commitment to prioritising the search for missing reporters and implementing comprehensive measures to safeguard the press.
Martínez, in a 2021 interview, expressed his anguish over the violence in Celaya. “No,” he said when asked if he had grown accustomed to the violence. “It hurts me to see Celaya like this. It hurts me to see everything that is happening. It hurts me to see dead people.” His pain was evident as he took a moment to wipe tears from his face. “All of this hurts me,” he concluded.