Overview
- Two crime reporters were intercepted and shot at by armed men on motorcycles in the Colonia Cazones area of Poza Rica on Monday night, with one colleague, identified in reports as Raymundo Perdomo, escaping and hiding.
- Elí Martínez, a reporter for El Noreste and collaborator with Radio Fórmula, was reported missing after the attack and was the focus of a search by state and federal police units.
- Authorities and the state journalists’ protection commission (CEAPP) said Martínez was located alive roughly 12 hours later, is under protective custody, and has been giving a statement to the Fiscalía.
- Security forces recovered casings at the scene, opened an investigation, and investigators said suspects fled using motorcycles and reportedly left tire‑spikes on escape routes, a tactic that caused a police patrol to crash during the pursuit.
- The incident adds to a string of 2026 attacks on reporters in Poza Rica and Veracruz, including recent murders and a kidnapping, reinforcing concerns about impunity, journalist safety, and the need for stronger protective measures.