A Chiapas journalist yesterday became the 13th reporter to be assassinated this year in Mexico.

Mario Leonel Gómez Sánchez, 40, was leaving his home in the municipality of Yajalón early yesterday afternoon when two men on a motorcycle approached him and opened fire.

He was taken to a nearby hospital but died soon after.

Gómez had worked at the newspaper El Heraldo de Chiapas for the last eight years, covering politics, justice and social causes in the Lacandon jungle region, and this year had covered the state and federal elections held July 1.

Local social organizations said Gómez had filed a formal complaint of threats against him in 2016 after he published a story on corruption. Protective measures were provided to him but were later withdrawn.

The state attorney general said Gómez’s family has requested a round-the-clock police presence at their home.

It said in a statement that it was “conscious of the importance of free journalism,” pledging to bring those responsible to justice.

El Heraldo de Chiapas later published an editorial signed by all of its staff, condemning the aggression against their colleague and demanding that authorities punish his assassination.

Source: El Universal (sp), Animal Político (sp)