Who was Ernesto Vázquez Reyna, the Attorney General’s Office delegate who was murdered in Tamaulipas?

Ernesto Cuitláhuac Vázquez Reyna, the delegate of the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) in Tamaulipas, was murdered on the afternoon of Monday, August 4, in Reynosa, in a direct attack that once again puts the spotlight on violence against federal officials in one of the states hardest hit by organized crime.

Although his profile was low-key, Vázquez Reyna had held one of the most important positions within the federal security structure in Tamaulipas since at least 2019: he was the head of the FGR office in the state, with coordinating and supervising duties in high-impact investigations such as organized crime, public health crimes, electoral crimes, and other federal crimes.

Ernesto Cuitláhuac Vázquez Reyna was not widely known outside of security and justice circles. However, his name appeared frequently in public activities related to the institutional relationship between the three levels of government.

In March 2025, he was present at a flag-raising ceremony in Reynosa, where Governor Américo Villarreal Anaya thanked then-presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum for her support during the flood emergency. Vázquez Reyna was mentioned as part of the federal team coordinating support efforts for the population.

He was also seen as close to the administration of Mayor Carlos Peña Ortiz, appearing frequently at various public events, ranging from social activities such as toy distribution and community support, to official security and infrastructure coordination events, such as the reception of impounded vehicles or the reinforcement of facilities.

Ernesto Cuitláhuac Vázquez Reyna was assassinated on the afternoon of Monday, August 4, in a direct attack. The attack occurred on Miguel Hidalgo Boulevard in Reynosa, when the vehicle he was traveling in was hit by a fragmentation grenade, forcing the officer to get out of the vehicle.

As he got out of the vehicle, Vázquez Reyna was surprised by an armed group who shot him, killing him on the spot. After the attack, the SUV he was traveling in caught fire. Videos shared on social media captured the moment of the attack and showed the vehicle engulfed in flames.

Five hours after the attack, authorities located an abandoned Ford Explorer in the Lomas del Real neighborhood of Jarachina, a few meters from the area where the attack occurred. It is presumed that this vehicle was used by the attackers, although the discovery has only recently been unofficially reported.