Assassination of Former Anti-Corruption Prosecutor Juan Francisco Solórzano Foppa in Guatemala City

On October 17, 2026, former Guatemalan anti-corruption prosecutor and tax chief Juan Francisco Solórzano Foppa was shot dead at the Campo Marte sports complex in Zone 5 of Guatemala City. The 43-year-old lawyer was directing a football match when at least four individuals, reportedly dressed in sports clothing to blend in with the crowd, launched the attack. A second man, identified as Gustavo Adolfo Aguilar Gamarro, was also killed in the shooting. At the time of the incident, Foppa was accompanied by security guards, but he had reportedly instructed them to remain 30 to 40 meters away to watch over his underage son at the edge of the pitch while he coached.

The Civil National Police (PNC) quickly mobilized, arresting two suspects identified as Rigoberto Choc Toz, 30, and Daniel Zaqueo Choc Toz, 28. During the arrest, authorities seized a motorcycle and a carbine-style assault rifle. Ballistic experts recovered at least 52 shell casings from the scene. Minister of Governance Marco Antonio Villeda revealed that one of the detainees was a former member of the Guatemalan army, having joined the Central Regional Command in February 2017. The PNC stated that the high-grade weaponry used suggests the involvement of an organized criminal structure rather than common criminals. The Public Ministry has announced that its investigation will receive technical support from international allies to identify the intellectual authors of the crime.

President Bernardo Arévalo issued a stern condemnation of the assassination, describing it as a cowardly act intended to intimidate the government and the public. Arévalo emphasized that his administration would not be deterred by such terror and ordered a full coordination of authorities to ensure the perpetrators face justice. Foppa was a prominent figure in Guatemala's legal landscape, having led the Criminal Investigations Directorate and served as the head of the Superintendency of Tax Administration (SAT) from 2016 to 2018. During his tenure at SAT, he was instrumental in prosecuting powerful business figures and recovering millions in unpaid taxes.

In the years leading up to his death, Foppa remained a vocal critic of systemic corruption. In 2025, he publicly alleged links between the Barrio 18 gang and the National Unity of Hope party, as well as corruption within the judicial system. He also briefly served on the defense team for journalist Jose Ruben Zamora, a case that drew international attention to the criminalization of dissent in Guatemala. Foppa’s death has reignited concerns regarding the safety of judicial officials who challenge the country’s entrenched political and criminal interests.

Juan Francisco Solórzano Foppa was a central figure in Guatemala’s decade-long effort to dismantle entrenched corruption networks. He spent over ten years in the Public Ministry and played a significant role during the era of the UN-backed International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG). His work included a high-stakes customs fraud investigation that ultimately led to the 2015 resignation and prosecution of then-President Otto Pérez Molina. As the head of the tax authority (SAT) between 2016 and 2018, Foppa targeted powerful business elites for tax evasion, a move that earned him both public acclaim and powerful enemies.

The environment for anti-corruption officials in Guatemala has become increasingly perilous. In recent years, many prosecutors, judges, and lawyers who led major investigations have faced systematic retaliation, including arbitrary criminal charges, imprisonment, and forced exile. This trend intensified under former Attorney General Consuelo Porras, who was sanctioned by the United States and the European Union for allegedly obstructing justice and targeting anti-corruption figures. President Bernardo Arévalo, who took office with a mandate to fight corruption, has prioritized judicial reform, including the appointment of a new attorney general in May 2026. However, institutional integrity remains low; OECD data from 2026 indicates that Guatemala meets only 11% of prosecutorial integrity criteria, significantly below the 52% average for member nations.