Guatemala anti-corruption lawyer juan francisco solórzano foppa killed
Guatemalan anti-corruption lawyer Juan Francisco Solórzano Foppa was shot dead in Guatemala City at 43. Police detained two suspects as authorities investigate the killing.
Guatemalan lawyer Juan Francisco Solórzano Foppa, known for challenging corruption involving powerful political and business figures, was shot dead in Guatemala City on October 17, 2026. He was 43.
Solórzano Foppa was visiting a sports centre when two men attacked him, according to reports of the incident. Police later detained two men and seized a carbine-style firearm and a motorcycle in connection with the case. Authorities have not established publicly who ordered the killing.
President Bernardo Arévalo condemned the murder and said he had instructed his government to coordinate with the relevant authorities to solve the case. He called for both the people who carried out the attack and anyone who ordered it to face justice.
Solórzano Foppa held several important public roles during his career. He served as head of the Criminal Investigations Directorate within Guatemala’s Public Prosecutor’s Office before leading the country’s Superintendency of Tax Administration, known as SAT, from 2016 to 2018. During his time at the tax authority, he helped prosecute business figures and recover unpaid taxes.
His work brought him into disputes involving powerful people and institutions. In 2025, he alleged links between the Barrio 18 criminal gang, the National Unity of Hope political party and parts of the judicial system. These were allegations made by Solórzano Foppa, not established findings in the account of his death.
He also briefly joined the defence team of journalist José Rubén Zamora in 2023. Zamora became widely known internationally amid concerns about the treatment of journalists and judicial independence in Guatemala and the wider Central American region.
Solórzano Foppa later left the legal team after the Public Prosecutor’s Office accused him of obstructing proceedings and destroying or concealing information. He denied the allegations but eventually accepted a plea agreement, saying he did not believe he would receive a fair trial.
