Juan Carlos Argeñal

Juan Carlos Argeñal Medina was a Honduran journalist who was assassinated in December 2013 at age 43 in the town of Danlí, Honduras. He was the third TV journalist killed in that country in 2013.

Early life and background Argeñal was a native of the neighbourhood of Los Almendros in the Jamastrán Valley in the municipality of Danlí. The municipality is located in the state of El Paraiso in the southeastern part of Honduras. His mother, who survived him, is named Idalia Medina.

Career After Argeñal's death it was reported that his media career had begun more than 20 years earlier, when he had started working as a cameraman and correspondent for the news report Más Noticias on Channel 12, a closed-circuit TV station. His work for Más Noticias involved investigations and broadcasts about both local and national events.

Radio y TV Globo Argeñal was a local correspondent for both Radio Globo and Globo TV, part of the Globo media group. Globo had opposed the 2009 military coup that deposed President Manuel Zelaya, and after reporting critically on the aftermath of the coup, it was the target of multiple attacks and broadcasting disruptions. On 28 September 2009, Radio Globo was forced off the air after security forces raided its offices, and did not return to the air until 20 October. In 2010, Luis Galdámez Álvarez, a reporter for both Radio Globo and Globo TV, survived a murder attempt outside his home in Tegucigalpa.

Memberships Argeñal was a member of the group Hombres Cristianos de Negocios (Christian Businessmen).

Death On 7 December 2013, Argeñal was shot to death at his house in Danlí. The details of his murder varied from one report to another. His residence was variously described as being located in the Teodoro Rodas Valle suburb of Danlí and in the town's Los Maestros section. According to most accounts, Argeñal was shot inside his home, with authorities indicating that they believed he had been at home alone when the gunmen entered the house, although one account, by Reporters Without Borders, said he had been shot outside his home. Several accounts said that he had been killed at around 3 pm; one said that he was killed at about 6 pm; another said that the crime had “occurred between five and six in the afternoon” when Argeñal was preparing to leave for a party; yet another said that Argeñal's neighbours had heard gunshots “at the stroke of 2 pm.” Some sources, including Amnesty International, said there were two perpetrators, while others said there were three, with some reports adding that the three men had worn hoods. Some sources said that he had sustained two bullet wounds to the head, while others said that there were “two or more” bullet wounds.

According to one source, the local coroner confirmed that Argeñal had died at about 7 pm as a result of two bullet wounds, one in the head and the other in the stomach. Flores said that burglary had been dismissed as a motive because nothing appeared to be missing from the scene of the crime.

Two days after Argeñal's body was found, the committee to Protect Journalists, which had previously “found a pattern of botched and negligent investigative work into the killings” of other Honduran journalists, called on Honduran authorities to launch a full investigation into the murder, to identify a motive, and to bring the perpetrators to justice. “We call on Honduran authorities to fully investigate this murder, including a motive related to journalism, and bring those responsible to justice,” said Carlos Lauría, CPJ's senior Americas program coordinator. “As Honduras faces political tension resulting from the November presidential elections and prepares for a new administration, authorities must ensure that journalists can report the news and without the violent reprisals they faced after the events of 2009.”

After Argeñal's murder, Reporters Without Borders (RWB) noted that “Globo is one of the few national broadcasters to criticize the June 2009 coup d'état” and that its employees “have paid a high price for this for the past four years,” including “military occupation of their premises, confiscation of their equipment and targeted murders. The mere fact of working for Globo exposed Argeñal to danger.” The group suggested that Argeñal's murder “could also be linked to his well-known support for Liberty and Refoundation.” Citing the murders of 38 Honduran journalists in the previous decade, RWB commented: “Given the almost complete collapse of the rule of law, will this latest murder remain unpunished like nearly all the others? Does it signal the start of a new crackdown at a time when the country's future seems more uncertain than ever?” RWB added: “We fear the worst, and we regret the international community's inadequate response to this disaster. The priority right now is that authorities investigate this new crime.”

Funeral Argeñal's funeral took place at the Church of the Immaculate Conception (el templo Inmaculada Concepción) in Danlí. The mass was celebrated by Fr. German Flores. Argeñal's brother Mario remembered him as “an incredible person, full of good feeling and gift of service.