Pablo Medina, a correspondent for ABC Color in Curuguaty, was killed on 16 October 2014. Medina had received threats in the past.
Journalism in Paraguay is once again facing messages of terror and death. Journalist Pablo Medina, a correspondent for ABC Color in Curuguaty, was the victim of an attack that cost him his life on 16 October 2014, 45km from Curuguaty, Canindeyú department, northeast of Asunción.
Medina was the latest target of murder-for-hire. He was shot multiple times with a 9mm caliber gun by two people, wearing camouflage, who ambushed him. The majority of the gunshot wounds were to his head and chest. According to police, the shots were fired at close range.
Medina was with two other people when he was attacked and shot. His killers escaped on a motorcycle and hid in a wooded area.
One of Medina’s assistants, Antonia Almada, who was 19, was with him in his vehicle. She was shot multiple times and died in hospital in Curuguaty. His other assistant was unharmed and was able to call for help.
The Sindicato de Periodistas del Paraguay (Paraguayan journalists union) is certain that Medina’s murder was carried out by drug trafficking groups, because on several previous occasions he had received death threats and had been granted police protection.
(Please note this is an abridged translation.)
