Rolando Santiz

Telecentro 13

April 1, 2009, in Guatemala City, Guatemala

Reporter Santiz and cameraman Antonio de León were driving to Telecentro 13’s offices in Guatemala City just after 5 p.m. when two gunmen on a motorcycle fired several times at their car, according to local news reports and CPJ interviews. Santiz, 52, was pronounced dead at the scene, while de León was hospitalized with head, jaw, and chest wounds.

Santiz, a 30-year veteran, was well-known in Guatemala, local journalists told CPJ. He had covered the police beat for about half of his career. Elsie Sierra, a spokeswoman for the TV station, said the journalist had received threats, although she said it was not clear whether they were linked to a specific story.

Motive Unconfirmed: CPJ is investigating to determine whether the death was work-related.