On 25 August, 2020, Daniel Soto was shot dead in Tecate, Mexico.

Sotelo was working in the family grocery store when armed gunmen walked in and opened fire,wounding him several times. He was taken to hospital but died later from his injuries.

The killing took place just one day after his brother-in-law, Oscar Eyraud Adams, was shot dead in an attack which authorities believe was connected to his campaign against the diversión of local wáter supplies by multinational corporations

In both cases the killing was carried out by a group of 5 men wearing jackets and helmets who were travelling in two pick-ups and armed with light weapons.

Sotelo was a member of the indigenous Kumiai people and, like his brother-in-law,  had campaigned against the diversión of local wáter supplies by large corporations. He had also campaigned against the extensión of the border wall ordered by Trump which separated Kumiai communities in Mexico and the United States.

He was also part of an initiative to bring the issues raised by the border wall to the United Nations, the International Criminal Court and the Inter American Commission on Human Rights.

Sotelo was the cousin of local mayor, Zulema Adams, who reported also having received threats via her Facebook page. She didn’t report the threats to the authorities but had taken steps to strengthen her security.

Other family members explained that there would be no wakes prior to the burials as they were afraid for their lives.