Story By: Juan Mayes, Sub-Editor: Joana Mihajlovska, Agency:  Newsflash

This Mexican journalist has been killed by suspected cartel members who also took his photo equipment shortly after he took snaps of a crime scene.

The murder took place in the town and municipality of Jerez in the central Mexican state of Zacatecas at around 10am on 9th December.

The victim has been named as Jaime Castano Zacarias who worked as an administrator for the online newspaper PrensaLibreMx and also had a communications job in local government.

According to the local media, Zacarias was intercepted by two gunmen after he took pictures at a crime scene with two dead bodies.

The victim was riding his motorcycle to work when he was gunned down by the suspects who also took his photographic material of the earlier crime scene.

The Zacatecas State Attorney General Office said the murder is linked to organised crime, however they are still investigating if Zacarias’ job had anything to do with it.

Zacatecas Human Rights Commission president Luz Dominguez Campos said she has asked officials for a quick and effective investigation considering Zacarias was a journalist, which means it was not just an act against his life but also against freedom of expression.

According to an article by the International Federation of Journalists on 10th December, Mexico is the most dangerous country to work as a journalist in the world.

The investigation continues.

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