On January 8, 2026, unidentified gunmen assassinated Edy Josué Romero Tzin, director of the Petén Regional Campus (CUDEP) of the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala.

The attackers shot Romero Tzin in the face and chest while he was shopping at a hardware store. As of this report, authorities have not identified the two gunmen, though neither had covered his face.

Romero Tzin was elected director of CUDEP in August 2025. Authorities suspected that the attack was targeted and related to administrative changes Romero Tzin had announced shortly after becoming the campus’s director.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the targeted killing of a university leader and sends condolences to Mr. Romero Tzin’s family, colleagues, and community. Authorities should take reasonable steps to prevent and respond to such attacks, including by investigating and holding perpetrators responsible, in accordance with international human rights standards. In addition to the harm to the victims, lethal violence of a university leader undermines academic freedom and democratic society generally.

Sources:
*This incident was identified by Alianza de Investigación en Centroamérica (CARA), a member of the Coalition for Academic Freedom in the America’s Monitoring Working Group.
https://republica.com/actualidad/indignacion-en-peten-comunidad-exige-justicia-por-asesinato-del-director-de-centro-universitario-de-la-usac-20261815160
https://www.prensalibre.com/guatemala/sucesos/crimen-contra-edy-romero-tzin-que-revelan-los-videos-y-las-primeras-hipotesis-del-caso/
https://www.soy502.com/articulo/asesinan-director-universitario-peten-mientras-realizaba-compras-102123