Guatemalan Journalist Ismael Alonzo González Murdered Amid Rising Threats to Press Freedom

On March 21, 2025, community journalist Ismael Alonzo González was fatally shot outside his home in the village of Santa Fe, Coatepeque, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. Two unidentified assailants dressed in black approached González and shot him in the head before fleeing into a nearby wooded area.

González, 27, was the general manager of Producciones Alonzo, a Facebook page dedicated to local and community news, and had previously worked with the digital media outlet Despertar Occidental. He was also an active member of the Association of Journalists and Communicators of the Southwest (APCSO).

According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), González had received threats, possibly due to information he possessed about local criminal groups that he intended to publish but ultimately refrained from sharing out of fear.

The murder has drawn condemnation from international organizations. RSF has called for a thorough investigation into the killing and urged the Guatemalan government to implement concrete protections for journalists. Similarly, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) emphasized the need for authorities to determine whether González was targeted for his work and to bring those responsible to justice.

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay also condemned the killing, stating, “Impunity for such crimes must not be tolerated as it deprives communities of essential information and only emboldens those who seek to silence journalists”.

Despite progress made by President Bernardo Arévalo’s administration in terms of press freedom, journalism remains a high-risk profession in Guatemala, particularly for those working in regions far from the capital.

As of now, there has been no public confirmation that an investigation into González’s murder is underway. The lack of accountability in such cases continues to threaten press freedom and the safety of journalists in the country.