On 07 June 2016, well known journalist and doctor, Victor Hugo Valdez Cardona was shot dead by two assailants on a  motorbike.

The crime took place in Cabecera area, Chiquimula district. Cardona was walking with his young grandson when he was approached by two armed men who opened fire on him. He died immediately while his nephew was unharmed.

Valdez Cardona was originally a doctor and had been a well known journalist for more than 27 years on Chiquimula TV where he produced and presented Chiquimula de Vision programmes with cultural news.

Between January and June 2016 four journalists were killed in Guatemala and there were a further two attempted killings. In May 2017 a court in Guatemala sentenced Byron Felipe Morales to 40 years in prison for the killing  of Valdez Cardona. Other suspects in the shooting remain at large.