The editor of La Voz de la Tierra Caliente and contributor to La Jornada Guerrero newspaper was shot dead by two youths riding a motorbike in the city of Altamirano, Guerrero State.

The crime reporter, who also contributed to El Universo and had reportedly received death threats from organised crime groups, recently revealed the involvement of a PRI representative in drug trafficking. In September, 2015, Birto was attacked by two armed men outside his home and one suspect was detained in 2016 in connection with the attack.