Mexican Journalist Calletano de Jesús Guerrero Killed Under Federal Protection

Calletano de Jesús Guerrero, deputy director-general of Global Mexico, was shot dead in Teoloyucan, State of México, while in the parking lot of San Antonio de Padua parish. He was reportedly attacked by armed individuals on a motorcycle.

Despite being under federal protection since 2014 due to ongoing death threats, Guerrero’s security failed. This makes him the second journalist killed in 2025 while under state-provided protection. His assassination intensifies concerns over the effectiveness of Mexico’s Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists.

Organizations from RSF, UNESCO, CPJ, OAS/IACHR, and ARTICLE 19 swiftly condemned the murder. The UNESCO Director-General called for “swift investigation and justice”. RSF highlighted the tragically ironic fact that despite federal safeguards, attacks on journalists continue in Mexico. CPJ’s Mexico representative, Jan-Albert Hootsen, underscored that this killing “underscores the urgency of Mexican authorities’ strengthening their capacity to protect reporters at risk”.

Additionally, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights denounced Guerrero’s killing alongside that of human rights defender Sergio Cruz Nieto, urging accountability.

The murder follows a disturbing pattern: Mexico is among the most dangerous countries for journalists. Since 2000, over 100 journalists have been killed, with most cases unresolved. The Tearful loss of Guerrero contributes to a climate of impunity that plagues violence against the press.

Other Mexican media figures killed in early 2025 include Kristian Uriel Martínez Zavala, marking a grim series of violent deaths among journalists.

Guerrero’s death spotlights profound flaws in Mexico’s protection apparatus. Being under formal protection should have reduced his risk, yet the attack succeeded. National and international advocates are now demanding comprehensive reforms: effective implementation of protection mechanisms, prompt investigations, prosecution of perpetrators, and systemic measures to ensure journalists can work without fear.