A journalist who also worked as a taxi driver was shot dead in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, becoming the ninth media professional killed in the country this year, according to the human rights organization Article 19. Hamurabi Huesca Manzano, owner of the news site Pinotepa Comunica, died after an armed group opened fire on him and two others on Friday, as documented in a state prosecutor’s report. Investigators indicated that the attack may have stemmed from a conflict between local criminal groups, with the intended target identified as a man known as “El Dario.” El Dario, recognized for inciting violence along the Oaxaca coast, survived the initial shooting but later died from his injuries in a hospital. Prosecutors stated that Huesca Manzano was waiting to transport El Dario when the assailants fired, and that the perpetrators have been “fully identified,” though no names were released and no connection to the journalist’s reporting was confirmed. Local accounts varied regarding the location of the attack; some reported it occurred at Huesca Manzano’s residence, while others noted that a woman was also injured. Article 19 issued a statement on social media demanding that the investigation prioritize the victim’s professional activities. The mayor of San Miguel Tlacamama, Antonio Olmedo Mendoza, publicly confirmed the death and expressed condolences, referring to the deceased by his full name and acknowledging the grief of family and colleagues. Mexico has long been regarded as one of the most hazardous environments for journalists, with more than 150 media workers killed since 1994, according to Reporters Without Borders.