Two journalists were shot dead in separate incidents in western Mexico within a 24-hour period, intensifying calls for protection for media workers in a country where journalists often face deadly reprisals. The U.N. human rights office in Mexico and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the killings and urged authorities to investigate the attacks thoroughly.
The first killing took place late Tuesday in Uruapan, Michoacán, when journalist Mauricio Solís, who ran the Minuto por Minuto news page on Facebook, was shot moments after interviewing the city’s mayor, Carlos Manzo. Manzo reported hearing several gunshots just minutes after parting from Solís, initially believing he might have been the target himself. Solís, who had frequently covered cartel violence and local security issues, was the fifth journalist killed in Mexico this year, according to the U.N. office.
Less than a day later, another journalist, Patricia Ramírez González, known locally as Paty Bunbury, was fatally shot in Colima while at her restaurant. Ramírez covered local entertainment news through her blog and contributed to a local newspaper. She was found with fatal injuries at her establishment, and local authorities confirmed her death at the scene.
Both incidents have drawn attention to the risks faced by Mexican journalists, who are frequently targeted for reporting on corruption, organized crime, and violence. Mexico remains one of the deadliest countries for journalists globally, with Reporters Without Borders recording over 150 journalist deaths since 1994. The CPJ noted the country’s pervasive impunity for crimes against media professionals, which they say has become the “norm,” leaving media workers vulnerable to further violence.
In response to these killings, the U.N. human rights office called for stronger protections for journalists and urged Mexico to take steps to safeguard freedom of expression and the public’s right to information.
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