MEXICO CITY — The United Nations human rights office in Mexico highlighted the urgent need for enhanced protections for journalists in the country after the fatal shooting of a journalist whose news page focused on the violence in Michoacán state.

Mauricio Solís, known for his work on the Facebook page Minuto por Minuto, was shot and killed on Tuesday evening immediately after he interviewed the mayor of Uruapan on the street. According to local prosecutors, a second person was injured in the incident.

Solís had just concluded his interview with Mayor Carlos Manzo outside city hall when the shooting occurred. Manzo recounted the events, stating that shortly after he left the area, several gunshots rang out nearby. “We sought cover because we thought the attack was aimed at us,” Manzo explained. It was only after some time that they realized Solís was the target of the attack.

The potential connection between the interview and the assassination is not something Manzo has dismissed. The U.N. rights office noted that Solís marks at least the fifth journalist killed in Mexico this year, emphasizing that he had previously expressed concerns about safety issues linked to his reporting. His Facebook page often shared updates on local events and the pervasive drug cartel violence affecting the region.

The office commented, “His killing serves as a wake-up call to protect the right to information and freedom of expression in Mexico.” A troubling trend has emerged, with more freelancers and reporters for local Facebook and digital news platforms becoming victims of violence.

Uruapan, located close to Michoacán’s avocado-producing area, has become a hotspot for drug cartel-related extortion and gang conflicts. These criminal organizations frequently demand protection money from local businesses, including those in agriculture and livestock.

Before his tragic death, Solís was investigating a suspicious fire at a local market—a situation that is not uncommon, as gangs sometimes resort to arson against businesses that refuse to comply with their extortion tactics.