Salvador Sánchez Roque, a freelance radio reporter, was shot to death on September 20 on a street in Florencia, a town four miles (seven kilometers) from the capital, San Salvador. Sánchez covered social movements and demonstrations, said David Rivas, director of local Radio Mi Gente, for which Sánchez often reported. In the weeks before the murder, Sánchez told Rivas that he had received death threats from the local arm of the Salvadoran gang Mara Salvatrucha, although the callers did not specify a reason for the threats. Salvadoran police arrested José Alfredo Hernández, a member of Mara Salvatrucha, on October 11.

Borman Mármol, a photographer for the San Salvador-based daily La Prensa Gráfica, and Alex Nolasco, a reporter for the national TV station Canal 21, were assaulted in separate incidents while covering an October 25 protest in Cutumay Camones, a small town near the western city of Santa Ana. Protesters attacked Mármol after he refused demands to hand over his camera, the journalist told CPJ. Mármol said he suffered minor injuries. Police roughed up Nolasco as he and cameraman Walter Aparicio attempted to leave the scene in a marked Canal 21 van. Nolasco said he suffered minor injuries. Police said that they believed the van was stolen, according to local press reports.

Journalists killed in 2007 in El Salvador (motive unconfirmed)

Salvador Sánchez Roque, freelance
September 20, 2007, Florencia

Sánchez, a freelance radio reporter, was shot while on his way to buy milk at a nearby shop, according to press reports and CPJ interviews.

Sánchez, 38, covered social movements and protests in Florencia, a town four miles (seven kilometers) from the capital, San Salvador, said David Rivas, director of local Radio Mi Gente, for which Sánchez often reported. Protesters had told Sánchez to be careful about his coverage, Rivas told CPJ.

Weeks prior to his death, Sánchez told Rivas that he had received repeated death threats from the local arm of the Salvadoran gang Mara Salvatrucha. Sánchez did not cover gang-related news, colleagues told CPJ. Rivas said the callers did not specify why they were threatening Sánchez.

Salvadoran police arrested José Alfredo Hernández, a member of Mara Salvatrucha, on October 11. During a press conference that day, Héctor Mendoza, deputy director of police investigations, said Hernández had confessed to killing the journalist, whom he believed to be a police informant. Police were looking for two other suspects, the Salvadoran press reported.

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