A Mexican journalist was shot dead in a Gulf state

MEXICO CITY – A radio journalist was killed on Thursday in the state of Veracruz in the Gulf of Mexico, his station and state authorities claimed.

Jacinto Romero Flores was killed by fire in the Potrerillo community, in Ixtaczoquitlán, according to Hugo Gutiérrez Maldonado, head of the Veracruz state security agency, over Twitter. Gutiérrez said state police conducted an operation in the area after the murder.

Romero worked for Ori Stereo 99.3 FM. The station expressed grief over his death. “The media is not the cause or consequence of violence in the country, but we are suffering the consequences of journalism and communication,” the statement said.

The state commission for the attention and protection of journalists condemned the murder and called on the state prosecutor’s office to open a full investigation, including the role played by some of Romero’s journalists in his murder.

The Press Freedom Organization Article 19 says Romero received threats. The U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists said via Twitter that it “learned of and strongly condemns the murder of reporter Jacinto Romero in the state of Veracruz and calls on the authorities to undertake a swift, transparent and comprehensive investigation into the murder.”

Veracruz was one of them for years Mexico‘the deadliest conditions for journalists. Several state-organized crime groups operate within the state and have infiltrated local and state government.

Journalists marched late Thursday night in the port city of Veracruz to protest Romero’s murder.

Journalist groups say nine journalists were killed in Mexico in 2020, making it the most dangerous country for journalists outside of war zones. Romero is at least the fifth journalist killed in Mexico this year.

Earlier this month, the Jalisco New Generation cartel publicly threatened to kill a prominent television news anchor.