Miami (September 1, 2026) — The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) condemns the murder of photographer and content creator Ricardo Zúñiga Rosas, which occurred on August 29 in the municipality of Tehuitzingo, in the Mexican state of Puebla. The hemispheric organization calls on authorities to conduct a prompt, thorough and effective investigation that considers his journalistic activity as a priority line of inquiry.
Zúñiga Rosas, 35, was shot inside a business he owned. According to press reports, two men traveling on a motorcycle arrived at the establishment and opened fire on him. He later died from his injuries.
The organization Article 19 reported that the photographer had reported threats last May after publishing images and information about local issues and criticizing the municipal administration. According to posts by Zúñiga Rosas himself on social media, he had received warnings to stop addressing political issues and criticizing local authorities. On that occasion, he left an unsettling message on his social media accounts: “So, folks, if anything happens to me, you know why.”
Authorities have not publicly established a motive for the murder or determined whether the reported threats were related to the crime. Zúñiga Rosas used his social media accounts to share photographs and information about Tehuitzingo and other issues of interest to the community.
“Zúñiga Rosas’ previous threats and journalistic activity must be investigated seriously, without ruling out any hypothesis. It is essential to determine whether his murder was related to his journalistic work and to identify those materially and intellectually responsible,” said IAPA President Pierre Manigault of Evening Post Publishing Inc., in Charleston, South Carolina, United States.
“We urge federal and state authorities to conduct a diligent and thorough investigation into Zúñiga Rosas’ murder, to pursue all lines of inquiry and, without delay, determine material and intellectual responsibility, so that this case does not become part of the impunity surrounding most attacks against journalists in the country,” said Martha Ramos, chair of IAPA’s Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information and of Organización Editorial Mexicana (OEM).
The IAPA leaders expressed concern over the continued violence against journalists and communicators in Mexico and noted that impunity in these crimes remains one of the main factors contributing to repeated attacks. The IAPA reiterated that murders and attacks against those engaged in journalistic or news-gathering activities pose a serious threat to press freedom and the public’s right to be informed.
According to IAPA records, Zúñiga Rosas’ murder adds to those committed this year against Francisco Alejandro Leyva Aguilar, on July 22 in Oaxaca; Josué Martínez Contreras, on July 16, also in the state of Puebla; and Carlos Castro, on January 8.
The IAPA is a non-profit organization dedicated to defending and promoting freedom of the press and expression in the Americas. It comprises more than 1,300 publications from the western hemisphere and is based in Miami, Florida, United States.
