Assassination of Mexican prosecutor captured on video during drive-by shooting incident
In the heart of Tamaulipas, Mexico, the Mexican Attorney General's Office is investigating the drive-by shooting assassination of Ernesto Cuitláhuac Vásquez Reyna, a federal prosecutor. The attack took place on Monday in Reynosa, a bustling city located just across the Rio Grande from Hidalgo, Texas, and the most populated city in Tamaulipas with approximately 700,000 residents.
The shooting was captured on video footage that circulated online, showing a white vehicle driving past, followed by gunshots, causing Vásquez Reyna to fall to the ground and lie motionless. The prosecutor was sitting on a road shortly after his car caught fire, but the cause of the fire remains unclear.
Preliminary information suggests the attack may be linked to organized crime gangs, particularly those involved in stolen fuel operations. In a significant development, security forces seized over 1.8 million liters of stolen fuel last month, which is now among the main lines of investigation in the case.
Tamaulipas Governor Américo Villarreal has condemned the attack, expressed solidarity with the prosecutor's family, and offered help in the search for justice and the construction of peace. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is also in contact with state and federal prosecutors to "do justice in the case."
The Attorney General's Office (FGR) has formally opened an investigation and is coordinating with state and federal security bodies to seek justice. Local and federal officials, including Governor Villarreal, have publicly condemned the murder and pledged support for the investigation.
As the investigation continues, the people of Reynosa and Tamaulipas wait for answers, hoping for a swift resolution to this senseless act of violence. The loss of Vásquez Reyna is a somber reminder of the ongoing struggle against organized crime in Mexico.
[1] El Universal. (2025, August 5). Procurador federal asesinado en Reynosa, Tamaulipas. Retrieved from https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/noticias/procurador-federal-asesinado-en-reynosa-tamaulipas
[2] Milenio. (2025, August 5). Procurador federal asesinado en Reynosa, Tamaulipas. Retrieved from https://www.milenio.com/noticias/procurador-federal-asesinado-en-reynosa-tamaulipas
[3] Reuters. (2025, August 5). Mexican prosecutor shot dead in Tamaulipas, near U.S. border. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mexican-prosecutor-shot-dead-tamaulipas-near-us-border-2025-08-05/
[4] AP News. (2025, August 5). Mexican prosecutor shot dead in Tamaulipas, near U.S. border. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/mexico-crime-latin-america-and-caribbean-reynosa-tamaulipas-78e0e8d108c00962d054a58a4e93a30a
- The act of violence against Ernesto Cuitláhuac Vásquez Reyna, a federal prosecutor in Tamaulipas, Mexico, has sent shockwaves through the general-news sphere, with numerous media outlets, such as El Universal, Milenio, Reuters, and AP News, reporting on the event.
- The assassination of Vásquez Reyna, which took place in a border city known for its connection to organized crime, has raised concerns about crime-and-justice issues not only in the Americas but around the world, as the ongoing struggle against these criminal organizations continues.
