Journalist Josue Martinez killed in drive-by shooting in Puebla

A Mexican journalist who covered security and local events was killed in a drive-by shooting Thursday in the central state of Puebla. Josue Martinez, director of Noticias San Martin Texmelucan, was shot near his home by two assailants on a motorcycle, local media reported.

His 13-year-old son was nearby and called police. The Puebla state government condemned the murder and directed prosecutors to open an investigation. The state prosecutor's office said the case would receive a reinforced focus on the protection of journalists and that all lines of inquiry would be pursued.

Background on journalist safety Mexico ranks among the most dangerous countries for journalists, according to Reporters Without Borders. The group recorded at least nine journalist killings in Mexico in 2025 and more than 150 since 1994. Earlier this month, journalist Roxana Guzman was found dead in Veracruz after being kidnapped in June.

Reporter Luis Angel Lopez Valdez was killed in Veracruz around the same period, and journalist Carlos Castro was shot dead in the state in January. A 2024 report by the Committee to Protect Journalists and Amnesty International found that Mexico has not provided effective state protection for members of the press, with the groups stating that impunity remains the norm in crimes against journalists.