Luis Ángel López Valdez, a journalist specializing in crime reporting and a contributor to the newspaper *Vanguardia de Veracruz*, was murdered early Thursday morning in the municipality of Poza Rica, in northern Veracruz.
According to initial reports, the attack took place on 20 de Noviembre Avenue, in the municipal seat. The journalist was shot and died at the scene. So far, authorities have not reported any arrests or disclosed a possible motive for the attack.
In addition to his journalistic work, López Valdez served as a deputy delegate for the emergency aid organization Cruz Ámbar in that region of Veracruz.
The reporter was under active protection measures granted by the State Commission for the Attention and Protection of Journalists (CEAPP). According to accounts from colleagues and associates, these measures had been implemented following reports of threats he allegedly received in the course of his professional work.
Following news of the homicide, *Vanguardia de Veracruz* expressed its condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues via a message on social media, confirming the death of their contributor.
The murder occurred in a municipality that has recently seen other acts of violence against members of the press. In January of this year, Carlos Castro—director of the digital news outlet *Código Norte*—was killed after being attacked inside a family-owned business in Poza Rica. According to reports from that time, the journalist had temporarily left the region after receiving threats but had returned by the time the attack occurred.
