Facebook’s Panorama Político reporter Pedro Damián Gómez murdered, third journalist killed in Mexico this year
As Mexican drug cartels battle over control of key trafficking routes and street-level distribution, another journalist has been found dead.
In Tijuana, Pedro Damián Gómez, the director of a Facebook outlet called Panorama Político, was found dead in his home in Colonia Lomas de la Amistad. The deputy prosecutor in Tijuana, Jorge Alberto Álvarez Mendoza , explained that the body was found in his home, decomposing for several days, which will be determined through forensic work.
photo JRLibby
Mendoza said one of the journalist’s neighbors reported “strange smells,” so agents entered the house where they found, lying in a bed, the body of the director of the news portal. Gomez may have been killed 7-10 days ago, last seen nearly two weeks ago.
Pedro Damián Gómez is the third journalist killed in Mexico for 2018 thus far.
Local news outlets note that the Forensic Medical Service (Semefo) took custody of the body and will be forwarding final a report of findings to the State Attorney General’s Office (PGJE). The PGJE will be responsible for conducting the investigation into the death, which was caused by trauma from a “sharp-edged weapon” – he was stabbed to death.
Robert Arce, a retired Phoenix Police detective with extensive experience working Mexican organized crime and street gangs, noted that “Mexico continues to be one of the most dangerous locations for journalists to work. Mexico saw 13 murdered journalists in 2017, however, that figure varies between press freedom organizations and their definitions. Some organizations reported only 12 while others show 14. Some press groups do not account for online-only reporters or citizen journalists.”
Frontera reports that Tijuana has already had 250 murders, citing statistics from the Attorney General’s Office.
I think more accurate to call this a “mysterious death” until the post mortem declares how he died. There is no doubt that many media personalities have been murdered in Mexico and right that you have drawn attention to them because the authorities do seem to have a lax approach to finding their murderers.