Lourdes Maldonado, a Tijuana journalist, was slain in the parking lot of a house on Vista Dorada Street in the exclusive Chalco neighborhood on Sunday, January 23. Since the death of photojournalist Margarito Martnez Esquivel six days ago, this news has upset not just Tijuana residents, but all Mexicans.

Given the recent events, the Governor of Baja California, Marina del Pilar Avila Olmedo, made a statement lamenting the journalist's loss and expressing her sympathies to her family. She also stated that she is in constant communication with the State Prosecutor's Office (FGE) and the Secretary of Citizen Security in order to track out those responsible:

"I deeply regret the murder of journalist Lourdes Maldonado López that occurred today in the municipality of Tijuana. Since then, I've been in constant touch with the State Prosecutor's Office and the Secretary of Citizen Security, where efforts are focused on locating and prosecuting those who are responsible."

"Because journalists are devoted to the pursuit of the truth, the assassination of Lourdes Maldonado is covered. I'd want to extend my condolences to Lourdes' family and the Baja California journalists; this crime targeted not only Lourdes, but our whole civilization.

We will use all of the state's resources to ensure that justice is served."

It should be noted that the journalist stated a few years ago in a morning session of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador that he was fighting a lawsuit against Jaime Bonilla, the former governor of Baja California, over an unjustified dismissal and payment debts of the former governor's media, PSN, and that he feared for his life:

"I even fear for my life since it's a lawsuit that I've been working on with him for 6 years and that the federal conciliation board found in my favor," she told Mexico's president.

The FGE released a statement an hour ago stating that the journalist was murdered in the Santa Fe district of Tijuana due to injuries sustained while in a car after being shot with a handgun. He also mentioned that the matter had been opened into an investigation folder.

RELATED VIDEO: Journalist Lourdes Maldonado talks about the fear she has of Jaime Bonilla