CHETUMAL, Mexico, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- The Committee to Protect Journalists said authorities in Mexico must bring the individual responsible for the death of a slain journalist to justice.
The U.S. group said on its Web site Thursday that Jose Alberto Velazquez Lopez, who owned the Mexican newspaper Expresiones de Tulum, was shot and killed by an unidentified gunman after leaving a Christmas party this week.
"We are deeply disturbed by the murder of Jose Alberto Velazquez Lopez," said Carlos Lauria, the committee's senior program coordinator. "Given the journalist's critical reporting on local government, federal authorities must cooperate with state prosecutors, conduct a thorough investigation, and bring those responsible to justice."
Luis Gamboa, deputy editor of the newspaper in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, said another unidentified man was operating a motorcycle carrying the gunman during Tuesday's deadly shooting.
Gamboa told the committee the newspaper had previously received death threats and was the target of a firebombing in November.
