Carlos Castro, Crime Reporter in Veracruz, Murdered; Shot Dead in Restaurant

“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat 

On Thursday night, January 8, the journalistic community of Veracruz suffered another loss with the murder of journalist Carlos Castro. The incident took place inside a commercial establishment located in the municipality of Poza Rica, in the northern part of the state. According to initial reports, the attack occurred while the journalist was inside a restaurant called La Troguebirria.

This business is located on 20 de Noviembre Avenue, in the Cazones neighborhood, a busy area of ​​the city. Witnesses reported that unknown individuals entered the premises and opened fire directly on Castro, then fled the scene in an unknown direction. After the shots were fired, people present at the establishment called emergency services via 911.

Paramedics arrived at the scene to provide first aid; however, despite their efforts, it was confirmed that the journalist had already died due to the severity of his injuries. Public security officers cordoned off the area to preserve the crime scene, allowing personnel from the State Attorney General’s Office to begin collecting evidence and opening an investigation.

As of this writing, state authorities haven’t issued a detailed official statement about the events, nor have any arrests been reported in connection with this case. Carlos Castro was a journalist known in the region for his coverage of crime news. He currently worked for the digital media outlet Código Norte Veracruz and had previously worked for the newspaper Noreste.

Following this incident, the State Commission for the Attention and Protection of Journalists (Ceapp) issued a statement confirming the homicide and strongly condemning the attack. The autonomous body reported that it is already addressing the situation and demanded that the state Attorney General’s Office and the competent authorities act swiftly. Those who make up this autonomous body demand that the authorities thoroughly investigate the case and bring those responsible to justice in accordance with the law,” the institution stated.

A relevant detail that has emerged through various media outlets is that Carlos Castro had a history of being at risk.  It was reported that, during 2024, the journalist had protection measures granted by the same CEAPP (State Commission for the Protection of Journalists) due to alleged death threats.

Sources: Tribuna, Monitores Multimedia