People stand near a framed photo of Guatemalan lawyer and anti-corruption figure Juan Francisco Solorzano Foppa, who died after being shot by unknown assailants on Saturday while visiting a sports center, during his wake at a funeral home in Guatemala City, Guatemala, October 19, 2026.
(Washington, DC) – Guatemalan authorities should carry out a thorough, prompt, and credible investigation into the killing of Juan Francisco Solórzano Foppa, a prominent anti-corruption lawyer, former prosecutor, and former head of Guatemala’s tax agency, Human Rights Watch said today.
On October 17, 2026, armed assailants shot and killed Solórzano Foppa at the Campo Marte sports complex in Guatemala City. Another man, identified by authorities as Gustavo Adolfo Aguilar Gamarro, was also killed in the attack. Guatemalan authorities arrested two men in connection with the crime, but prosecutors said there was no evidence linking them to the attack and a judge ordered their release.
“The killing of Juan Francisco Solórzano Foppa is a shocking attack against a lawyer who played a prominent role in some of Guatemala’s most important anti-corruption efforts,” said Juanita Goebertus, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. “Guatemalan authorities should ensure a thorough, prompt, and credible investigation capable of identifying not only the gunmen, but also anyone who planned, ordered, or facilitated this crime.”
Armed attackers opened fire on Solórzano Foppa while he was at the sports complex coaching a football team, killing him at the scene, media reported. President Bernardo Arévalo condemned the killing and called for those responsible, including any who played a role in planning the crime, to be brought to justice.
Solórzano Foppa, 43, was widely known for his anti-corruption work in Guatemala. He served as director of criminal analysis within the attorney general’s off
