El Phoenix Exposes Mexican Officials and Mafia
- ACAPULCO,Mexico – José carlos gonzález Herrera,creator of the online portal The Warrior Citizen Opinion and known as "The Phoenix" on social media,was fatally shot Wednesday night in downtown...
- Initial reports indicate González Herrera had just finished participating in a live-streamed interview around 6 p.m.
- Witnesses reported that the assailants fired multiple shots before fleeing the scene.
Journalist “The Phoenix” Shot Dead in Acapulco
Table of Contents
- Journalist “The Phoenix” Shot Dead in Acapulco
- Journalist “The Phoenix” Shot Dead in Acapulco: A Q&A
- What happened to José Carlos González Herrera?
- Who was josé Carlos gonzález Herrera?
- Where did the shooting take place?
- When did the shooting occur?
- What was González Herrera doing before the shooting?
- Did González Herrera have a history of attacks?
- What is The Warrior Citizen opinion?
- How many followers did González Herrera have on social media?
- What is the current status of the inquiry?
- Are there concerns about journalist safety in Guerrero?
- How many journalists and communicators have been killed in Guerrero since 1997?
ACAPULCO,Mexico – José carlos gonzález Herrera,creator of the online portal The Warrior Citizen Opinion and known as “The Phoenix” on social media,was fatally shot Wednesday night in downtown Acapulco,Guerrero.The shooting occurred around 7:40 p.m. in the “La Vaquero stop” area.
Initial reports indicate González Herrera had just finished participating in a live-streamed interview around 6 p.m. when he was ambushed by armed individuals shortly after concluding his program. He performed under the persona of “El Ave Fénix,” characterized by a wrestling mask and reporter’s vest.
Witnesses reported that the assailants fired multiple shots before fleeing the scene. González Herrera’s body was found on the street near a pharmacy.Followers identified him as the administrator of The Warrior Citizen Opinion, a platform featuring news, citizen complaints, political satire, and humor.

Citizen Journalism Advocate
González Herrera had amassed over 142,000 followers on social media and was considered a prominent figure in “citizen journalism.” He was known for his criticism of local authorities and for addressing sensitive political and social issues. He concealed his identity during broadcasts using a mask.
Previous Attack
This was not the first attack against González Herrera. On June 15, 2023, he was shot in both arms in an assault on Constituents Avenue, also in Acapulco. At that time, he broadcast live from his car, attributing the attack to “La mafia” without providing further details.
Along with his work as a communicator, González Herrera was also known to have worked as a primary school teacher, even though it is indeed unclear whether he was still employed in that capacity.
Investigation Underway
Personnel from the Guerrero State Attorney General’s office responded to the scene and have opened an investigation.Forensic services personnel transported the body to the Forensic Medical Service (Semefo) for an autopsy.
Journalist Safety Concerns
The killing of González Herrera is the latest in a series of attacks against journalists in Guerrero.In July 2023, Nelson Matus Peña, a police reporter and director of the Lo Real de Guerrero portal, was also murdered in Acapulco. According to local press figures, at least 23 journalists and communicators have been killed in Guerrero since 1997.
Journalist “The Phoenix” Shot Dead in Acapulco: A Q&A
What happened to José Carlos González Herrera?
José Carlos González Herrera, a Mexican journalist known as “The Phoenix” online, was fatally shot in Acapulco, Mexico. The shooting occurred on Wednesday night in the “La Vaquero stop” area.
Who was josé Carlos gonzález Herrera?
González Herrera was the creator of the online portal The Warrior Citizen Opinion. He was also a prominent figure in citizen journalism, known for his criticism of local authorities and his coverage of sensitive political and social issues. He frequently enough concealed his identity during broadcasts,using a wrestling mask and reporter’s vest and going by the persona “El Ave Fénix.”
Where did the shooting take place?
The shooting took place in downtown Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, specifically near the “La Vaquero stop” area.
When did the shooting occur?
The shooting occurred around 7:40 p.m. on Wednesday night.
What was González Herrera doing before the shooting?
Initial reports indicate that González Herrera had just finished participating in a live-streamed interview around 6 p.m. before being ambushed.
Did González Herrera have a history of attacks?
Yes, this was not the first attack against González Herrera. On June 15, 2023, he was shot in both arms in an assault on Constituents Avenue, also in Acapulco.
What is The Warrior Citizen opinion?
The Warrior Citizen opinion is an online portal created by González Herrera. It featured news,citizen complaints,political satire,and humor.
González Herrera had amassed over 142,000 followers on social media.
What is the current status of the inquiry?
The Guerrero State Attorney General’s office has opened an investigation into the shooting. Forensic services personnel transported the body to the Forensic Medical Service (Semefo) for an autopsy.
Are there concerns about journalist safety in Guerrero?
Yes. The killing of González Herrera is the latest in a series of attacks against journalists in Guerrero. In july 2023, Nelson Matus Peña, a police reporter and director of the Lo Real de Guerrero portal, was also murdered in Acapulco.
How many journalists and communicators have been killed in Guerrero since 1997?
According to local press figures, at least 23 journalists and communicators have been killed in Guerrero since 1997.
