On the morning of Sunday, March 2, journalist and DJ Kristian Uriel Zavala was murdered along with 22-year-old Axel Yahir in an armed attack on the Silao-Romita state road in the municipality of Silao, Guanajuato. The incident occurred near the El Condado de la Pila subdivision when individuals in a moving vehicle opened fire on them.
Kristian Uriel Zavala, 28 years old, was the director of the news portal 'El Silaoense Mx' and had started his career as a reporter at the print media 'Reporte Silao'. Zavala had received prior threats and had requested protection from the state government in 2021.
The Attorney General's Office of the State of Guanajuato has started an investigation and has designated a forensic and operational team to clarify the crime. The government of Silao has offered support for the investigation and condolences to the victims' families.
The organization Article 19 condemned the murder and expressed its concern about the violence against journalists in Mexico. Through social media, Article 19 reported that in 2021 the journalist was a victim of physical violence and threats, for which he was a beneficiary of protection measures from the Guanajuato state government between 2021 and 2022.
The murder of Kristian Uriel Zavala is the third case of a communicator murdered in Mexico this year.
