Journalist Alejandro Leyva assassinated in Oaxaca

Mexican journalist Alejandro Leyva was assassinated in the state of Oaxaca on July 22. Leyva was shot while eating at a public food establishment near his home in the municipality of San Pablo Etla.

Prior to his death, Leyva had spent a year seeking protection and justice following death threats and smear campaigns. He had publicly held Oaxaca Governor Salomón Jara responsible for his safety through his video column, ‘El Zumbido del Moscardón’, due to his critical reporting on local power structures.

Despite Leyva reporting threats to both state and federal authorities in July 2025, no protection was provided. Furthermore, a case file previously sent by the Federal Attorney General's Office (FGR) to the state prosecutor's office was reportedly lost. Leyva had been planning to appeal to the Inter-American system of human rights before he was killed. His death marks the seventh journalist killed in Mexico this year.