Mexican journalist killed in Tamaulipas

On Saturday, a journalist was killed in the northern Mexican state of Tamaulipas , adding to a wave of violence in one of the world’s most dangerous countries for media workers.

Carlos Domínguez

was murdered Saturday afternoon in the city of Nuevo Laredo when he was traveling in his vehicle, confirmed the Attorney General of the State of Tamaulipas , Irving Barrios Mojica .

Carlos Domínguez Rodríguez, 69, worked for Diario de Nuevo Laredo and recently wrote a political column on social networks.

Domínguez was an independent journalist who wrote a political column as well. In one of his last publications, he lamented the growing political violence that has struck Mexico ahead of the presidential election in July .

The Attorney General’s Office has launched an investigation to determine the circumstances of the killing, including whether it was related to Domínguez’s work as a journalist, yet the prosecutor said he had not reported any threats against him.

On Twitter , Francisco García Cabeza de Vaca , Governor of Tamaulipas , denounced the killing in Spanish: “My condolences to the family of the journalist Carlos Dominguez Rodriguez who passed away in Nuevo Laredo today. My commitment to them and the journalistic community of Tamaulipas is that this murder will not go unpunished.”

While Roberta Jacobson , U.S. ambassador to Mexico , wrote in Spanish: “Extremely saddened by the murder of journalist Carlos Domínguez. I agree with Francisco García Cabeza de Vaca's commitment to investigate and bring those responsible to justice. Violence against one is an attempt to silence everyone.”

Duncan Taylor

, UK ambassador to Mexico , condemned Domínguez’s death writing that he “regrets the murder of journalist Carlos Domínguez in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas. I offer sincere condolences to his family. I firmly believe that freedom of expression is vital for a dignified society. We have to work together to defend it around the world.”

Moreover, the Delegation of the European Union along with the Embassies of the Member States of the European Union accredited in Mexico, the Norwegian Embassy and Swiss Embassy in Mexico denounced Domínguez’s death in a statement written in Spanish .

The last attack against a journalist in Tamaulipas occurred on June 20, 2016 , in Ciudad Victoria , when Zamira Esther Bautista was murdered. She was a freelance journalist and a teacher, and she worked for El Mercurio and La Verdad in Ciudad Victoria.

Reporters Without Borders

called for a swift investigation into the murder of Carlos Domínguez Rodríguez, fearing a wave of violence during the election year in Mexico .

At least 67 media workers were killed worldwide in connection with their work in 2017, according to the advocacy group Reporters Without Borders , which singled out Mexico as the most dangerous country for journalists in the Western Hemisphere.

Since 2000, at least 112 media workers have been killed in Mexico, with 39 deaths since Enrique Peña Nieto became president in December 2012, advocacy group Article 19 says.

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