José Givonaldo Vieira

Bezerros FM and Folha do Agreste

December 14, 2009, in Bezerros, Brazil

Three unidentified men in a light-colored compact car intercepted Vieira’s vehicle outside the offices of Bezerros FM, a station owned by the journalist, in the city of Bezerros, 70 miles (110 kilometers) from Recife, according to the national daily O Globo. Witnesses told reporters that one assailant walked up to Vieira’s car and shot him three times in the chest and head. Vieira was taken to a local clinic and then transferred to a regional hospital in the nearby city of Cuararu, where he was pronounced dead.

Vieira, 40, hosted the radio program “Bezerros Comunidade,” which focused on local social issues, O Globo reported. He also owned the local newspaper Folha do Agreste and a music production company.

Local police were investigating the killing, and authorities offered a reward of 2,000 reals (US$1,200), according to news reports. Investigators told local reporters that Vieira’s murder appeared to be a contract killing. They did not immediately identify a motive.

Motive Unconfirmed: CPJ is investigating to determine whether the death was work-related.