Oaxaca Journalist Francisco Alejandro Leyva Aguilar Fatally Shot
On July 22, 2026, journalist Francisco Alejandro Leyva Aguilar was shot dead in the municipality of San Pablo Etla, Oaxaca. He was attacked while eating at a food stall in the La Esmeralda neighbourhood; at least two armed men on a motorcycle opened fire, also wounding a woman.
Leyva Aguilar, a former director of the state broadcaster CORTV and author of the column “El Zumbido del Moscardón,” was known for his criticism of Governor Salomón Jara Cruz’s administration. The killing is the seventh journalist murder recorded in Mexico in 2026.
The Oaxaca Attorney General’s Office opened a criminal investigation and has asked the federal Special Prosecutor’s Office for Crimes Against Freedom of Expression (FEADLE) to assist. Governor Jara condemned the act, pledged “no impunity,” and coordinated with federal security officials. Domestic and international press‑freedom groups—including Reporters Without Borders, Article 19, FAPERMEX and the National Forum of Journalists—called for a prompt, independent and transparent inquiry.