Gibb Guerrero, 53, owner and director of the daily newspaper, in the eastern state of Veracruz, was killed in an apparent ambush in the city of Poza Rica at about 10 p.m., according to press reports. Four unidentified gunmen fired at least 15 shots at Gibb Guerrero as he was driving home to Papantla, according to those reports.
Struck by eight shots, three to his head, Gibb Guerrero lost control of his vehicle and crashed. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The assailants fled in two cars, according to the local press.
Earlier that night, Gibb Guerrero was in the city of Martínez de la Torre, where a new edition of La Opinión was launched, the Mexican press reported. Gibb Guerrero had received anonymous death threats days before the attack, but he didn’t express great concern over them, a La Opinión editor told CPJ on condition of anonymity.
In October, federal agents raided the home of Gibb Guerrero’s sister, seizing a grenade, several pistols, and a large stash of ammunitions, The Associated Press reported. A few days later, a second home was raided and the personal secretary of the director’s sister was charged with arms possession. Investigators told CPJ that Gibb Guerrero’s slaying could have been motivated by personal factors, but did not rule out professional possibilities.