Slain journalist’s dog waiting at the doorstep throws Mexican peril in focus

A dog of a dead
journalist was seen waiting for its owner outside her home, days after the
journalist was shot dead.

According to a statement
by the Baja California state prosecutor’s office, Lourdes Maldonado Lopez, a
Mexican journalist was killed in her car on Sunday at the border of Tijuana,
Mexico.

Local police officials received a report around 7 pm on Sunday and declared Lourdes dead on arrival. An investigation of the crime is currently underway.

The 68-year-old
media veteran is survived by her dog, Chato, who was photographed waiting at
the doorstep of her Sante Fe home.

The heart
shattering photograph was uploaded by Mexican journalist Yolanda Morales on Twitter.

The caption reads,
“The dog of murdered journalist, Lourdes Maldonado.”

In 2019,
Lourdes had reached out to Mexican president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrado after
fearing for her safety and life. In a morning news conference, Lourdes told the
president “I fear for my life.”

According to
the human rights organisation, Lourdes, who mostly covered politics and crimes
like corruption had experienced attacks previously for her work. She was also a
member of the organisation.

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Lourdes is the second journalist within a week to fall victim to be killed in her area. Alfonso Margarito Martínez Esquivel, a freelance photojournalist
who covered crime in Tijuana was also shot outside his home.

The Committee to Protect Journalists, a non-profit
organisation based in New York also responded to Lourdes’ death via a tweet. The
committee expressed its shock and requested authorities to “thoroughly and
transparently investigate the attack.”

Lourdes was
the third journalist who was killed this year. Since the year 2000, more than
100 newspersons have been killed in Mexico and only a portion of killings have led
to an arrest. The country is deemed to be one of the most unsafe and life-threatening places in the world for journalists.