The founder of Quinto Poder was shot by an unidentified gunman in the street and later died in hospital. The shooting happened when Ferral Martinez, a female media executive, was walking to her car in the city of Papantla and an individual on a motorcycle opened fire on her. She died at the regional hospital of Poza Rica.

According to local press reports, the journalist had already reported threats in 2016 and she was assigned a protection officer to accompany her 12 hours a day while four cameras were installed in her house. In weeks prior to her killing, Ferral Martinez had received threats every day through social networks, with messages smearing her in a vicious campaign to undermine  her work," a Mexican website said.