Mexican Prosecutor Killed in Brazen Grenade Attack on Reynosa Boulevard

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Ernesto Cuitláhuac Vázquez Reyna, a senior prosecutor for Mexico’s Federal Attorney General’s Office (FGR), was brutally murdered on August 4, 2025, in a daylight attack on Hidalgo Boulevard in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, a border city near Hidalgo, Texas. The assault, captured on chilling video footage, occurred during rush hour when assailants threw a grenade at Vázquez’s black Cadillac Escalade, setting it ablaze. Vázquez, 43, crawled from the vehicle in agony before gunmen in a white Ford Explorer opened fire, killing him. The attack, just four miles from the Reynosa-Hidalgo International Bridge and one mile from the Tamaulipas State Attorney General’s Office, has heightened fears of escalating violence in the region.

The ambush unfolded in a busy commercial area near Plaza Engrei, with video showing Vázquez’s burning vehicle and stunned motorists passing by. A bystander attempted to drag Vázquez’s body away from the flames, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities recovered the Ford Explorer used by the attackers around 10 p.m. local time, blocks from the site, according to the Daily Mail. The Tamaulipas State Police secured the area, closing two eastbound lanes of Hidalgo Boulevard, as reported by KRGV. No arrests have been made, and the FGR has not released details on suspects, though coordination with the Tamaulipas Attorney General’s Office is underway to investigate, per a statement from the state agency.

Vázquez, who joined the FGR in 2019 and served as its senior representative in Tamaulipas, was a visible figure in Reynosa, often attending public events like toy distributions and security operations, according to Parriva. His killing, attributed to the Gulf Cartel by Breitbart Texas, follows FGR raids on July 26 that seized 1.8 million liters of fuel from cartel operations, suggesting retaliation for disrupting their smuggling activities. Tamaulipas Governor Américo Villarreal condemned the attack on X, stating, “We stand in solidarity with his family and reiterate our full willingness to assist the Attorney General’s Office and the Government of Mexico in the pursuit of justice and the construction of peace.” President Claudia Sheinbaum affirmed federal support for the investigation, per Mexico News Daily.

The attack has sparked local and international concern. Gildardo López, president of the Reynosa Chamber of Commerce, warned El Norte that the murder could trigger a “binational trade crisis,” predicting a U.S. travel advisory that may paralyze commerce. The U.S. Department of State already advises against travel to Tamaulipas due to rampant organized crime, including gun battles, murder, and kidnapping, noting that “heavily armed members of criminal groups often patrol areas of the state and operate with impunity” along the border from Reynosa to Nuevo Laredo. The assault, involving grenades and automatic weapons, underscores the region’s ongoing cartel-related violence, despite a reported decline in homicides, with 110 recorded in Tamaulipas in the first half of 2025.

The killing highlights the dangers faced by public officials in Mexico’s border regions, where cartels wield significant influence. Vázquez’s high-profile role and the attack’s audacity, executed in broad daylight, signal a bold challenge to authorities, raising questions about security and justice in Tamaulipas. As investigations continue, the incident serves as a grim reminder of the persistent threat of organized crime, impacting both local communities and cross-border relations.