Gerardo García Pimentel
Encyclopedia
Gerardo Israel García Pimentel (1983 – December 8, 2007) was a Mexican
journalist
and crime reporter.
He was shot dead outside his home in Uruapan
, Michoacán
, after a high-speed car chase.
García Pimentel worked as a reporter for the newspaper La Opinión de Michoacán. He covered mainly agriculture, but occasionally also police affairs. The region has been scene of drug trafficking and frequent violence. In 2006 nine journalists were killed in Mexico for reporting on violence and drug traffic, according to Press freedom group Reporters Without Borders
. The last 30 years more than 50 journalists were murdered in Mexico, many of the killings carried out to silence journalists reporting on organized crime such as drug trafficking. This makes Mexico one of the world's most dangerous areas for reporters – only Iraq is considered more dangerous.
The killing incident has been covered by newspapers worldwide.
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and crime reporter.
He was shot dead outside his home in Uruapan
Uruapan
Uruapan is a city and municipality in the west-central part of the Mexican state of Michoacán. The city is the municipal seat of the municipality...
, Michoacán
Michoacán
Michoacán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 113 municipalities and its capital city is Morelia...
, after a high-speed car chase.
García Pimentel worked as a reporter for the newspaper La Opinión de Michoacán. He covered mainly agriculture, but occasionally also police affairs. The region has been scene of drug trafficking and frequent violence. In 2006 nine journalists were killed in Mexico for reporting on violence and drug traffic, according to Press freedom group Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders is a France-based international non-governmental organization that advocates freedom of the press. It was founded in 1985, by Robert Ménard, Rony Brauman and the journalist Jean-Claude Guillebaud. Jean-François Julliard has served as Secretary General since 2008...
. The last 30 years more than 50 journalists were murdered in Mexico, many of the killings carried out to silence journalists reporting on organized crime such as drug trafficking. This makes Mexico one of the world's most dangerous areas for reporters – only Iraq is considered more dangerous.
The killing incident has been covered by newspapers worldwide.
Reaction
- Reporters Without BordersReporters Without BordersReporters Without Borders is a France-based international non-governmental organization that advocates freedom of the press. It was founded in 1985, by Robert Ménard, Rony Brauman and the journalist Jean-Claude Guillebaud. Jean-François Julliard has served as Secretary General since 2008...
- “The motive for terrible murder is still unknown but the way García was apparently pursued before he was killed suggests he was personally targeted. “Michoacán is one of the states that have been hit worst by violence against the press, above all because of its powerful drug cartels. We extend our condolences to García’s family and we urge the authorities to take the case seriously and to explore the possibility that he was killed in connection with his work.”