Radio Visión
September 23, 2009, in Nuevo Casas Grandes, Mexico
Two unidentified men wearing ski masks burst into the
offices of local Radio Visión, where Miranda and his brother José were working,
local reporters told CPJ. The assailants shot Miranda repeatedly in the back of
the head in the 11 p.m. attack, a spokesman for the Chihuahua state prosecutor’s office,
Julio César Castañeda, told CPJ. News reports said Miranda died at the
scene. The journalist’s brother was unharmed.
Miranda, 44, known as “El Gallito” (The Tough Guy), wrote a blog
called “Cotorreando con el Gallito” and was a host on Radio Visión. A
reporter with 15 years of experience, Miranda was known for his harsh criticism
of local crime, according the national daily El Universal. In his most recent columns, he criticized
the lack of safety in Nuevo Casas Grandes and its surrounding areas.
His last blog entry detailed what he said was a
string of 25 execution-style murders in the area. The journalist pointed to
organized crime groups as the executioners.
Motive Unconfirmed: CPJ is investigating to determine whether the death was work-related.
