Honduras sees surge in violence: lawyer survives attack, massacres claim 75 lives

On June 12, 2026, Honduran attorney Marlon Iván Rodríguez was targeted in El Progreso, Yoro. The assailant fired twice and both shots misfired, allowing the lawyer to escape to his office while the gunman fled. The incident revived concerns over the chronic violence against lawyers in Honduras, a profession that has recorded over 220 murders between 2004 and 2026, with most cases remaining unresolved.

Meanwhile, the Observatorio de la Violencia of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras reported 16 massacres in the first months of 2026, resulting in 75 deaths—an increase of 18 victims compared with the same period in 2025. The death toll includes eight women and the attacks are concentrated in densely populated neighborhoods and public spaces. Authorities stress the need for stronger criminal investigations to combat the rising insecurity that haunts the population.