The journalist was killed when gunmen opened fire on his car in Pedro Juan Caballero city, near the capital of Asunción, according to media reports.

The Journalists’ Union of Paraguay condemned the killing, saying that journalists in the area near the border with Brazil receive frequently threats. The organisation cited the cases of Aníbal Gómez, of Radio América and ABC Color correspondent Cándido Figueredo, both of whom had reportedly received death threats.

Artaza had been very critical on the radio in the lead up to the elections in Paraguay, La Nación newspaper added.