Columnist, Co-Editor of Tijuana Newspaper Slain

Hector Felix, an acerbic columnist and co-editor of Zeta newspaper, was shot to death Wednesday by an unknown assailant who opened fire as Felix drove alone on a Tijuana street, authorities said.

Tijuana Dist. Atty. Francisco Dominguez said Felix was hit three times in the head and arm and died instantly from the shotgun blasts.

No arrests have been made, but a possible witness was being questioned by Baja California State Judicial Police.

There was no known motive for the morning attack, which occurred about 2 miles from Zeta’s offices and 8 miles east of downtown.

Felix had founded Zeta with his longtime friend and partner, Jesus Blancornelas.

“Right now we are recovering from the shock. All of our reporters are out looking for information,” Blancornelas said in a telephone interview.

“We naturally cannot say who it was, and we are going to leave it in the hands of the authorities. It’s not a matter of fear, but rather that we want to leave things in the hands of justice. . . .

“The government has said that it respects freedom of expression and that the police are among the most advanced. . . . We hope that both those things might be demonstrated.”

Felix, 46, had been with Zeta since 1980. He wrote a column for the weekly, which is published in the Mexican border city and distributed throughout Baja California.

“He was a satirist. He was very well known and popular here in the state,” said Miguel Cervantes, a writer for Zeta.

Several local radio stations reported taking dozens of calls from citizens asking about the slaying.

Cervantes said Felix had no known enemies and called the shooting “an act of cowards” aimed at muzzling the press.

“Liberty of expression exists in Mexico, but there’s a high price to pay if you want to practice it,” he said. “This is a signal, a warning to the free press of Tijuana and the whole country.”

Felix’s column, titled “A Little Bit of Something,” dealt with everyday occurences in the state’s political and social life. He often focused his sarcasm on government officials and business people, chiding them for a reputed know-it-all attitude and alleged arrogance.

“He was a fellow who one time said that he was not a journalist but rather someone who wrote about what he saw and felt,” said Blancornelas. “He had a sense of humor with a lot of spark that left many uncomfortable, especially officials.”

Last year, the offices of Zeta were sprayed with bullets fired from a passing car. No one was injured in that attack and police never found those responsible.