Juan Francisco Solorzano Foppa, a prominent Guatemalan former prosecutor and anti-corruption figure, was shot and killed on October 17, 2026, at a sports complex in Guatemala City, leaving a second person dead and at least three others injured.

This assassination revives concerns about the safety of justice officials and anti-corruption figures in Guatemala. The killing highlights the significant dangers faced by those who challenge powerful interests in the country, underscoring the fragility of the justice system.

What the records show

Authorities reported that Juan Francisco Solorzano Foppa, 43, died on Saturday, October 17, 2026, during an armed attack at the Campo Marte sports complex in Zone 5 of Guatemala City. He was playing in a soccer match when armed men attacked the field. Gustavo Adolfo Aguilar Gamarro, 52, also died in the incident. Three wounded individuals were transported to a medical center for attention. Guatemalan police detained two suspects in connection with the case shortly after the attack. Officers seized a carbine-style firearm and a motorcycle. President Bernardo Arévalo condemned the "cowardly murder" on his official X account and called for justice, instructing government institutions to coordinate with authorities to resolve the crime. Arévalo stated that both the direct perpetrators and those who ordered the attack must face the full weight of the law.

The timeline

Solorzano Foppa had a distinguished career in public service, focusing on anti-corruption efforts. He served as director of Criminal Analysis within the Public Ministry from 2013 to 2016. From 2016 to 2018, he headed the Superintendency of Tax Administration (SAT). During his tenure, he led criminal intelligence in high-impact investigations. He contributed expert reports to the "La Línea" case, which forced the resignation of then-President Otto Pérez Molina in 2015. As head of the tax authority, he initiated judicial interventions and inspections that resulted in significant collections of evaded taxes.

What changed and for whom

Solorzano Foppa's work at the SAT led to historical tax collections by compelling companies to pay millions in evaded taxes. His dismissal from the SAT in 2018 was widely seen as politically motivated. He remained a vocal anti-corruption activist and often faced retaliation. In 2023, he was arrested and prosecuted for obstruction of criminal action and unfaithful sponsorship, charges he accepted as part of a plea agreement related to his defense of journalist José Rubén Zamora. Prosecutors, judges, and lawyers involved in Guatemala's anti-corruption drive have experienced retaliation through criminal cases, imprisonment, or exile. This situation highlights the fragile nature of the justice system, which President Arévalo has made a priority for his government.

What the subject has said publicly

Solorzano Foppa was an outspoken critic and used his social media to publish opinions on political and judicial matters. In 2025, he alleged connections between the Barrio 18 gang and the National Unity of Hope party. He also publicly referred to alleged links between criminal gangs and the judicial system. In 2021, after an arrest on charges he claimed were invented, Solorzano Foppa stated he was "proud, knowing that we are doing things right; we are affecting powerful people in the country".

What we could not confirm

We could not confirm the identities of the two individuals detained by police. We also could not confirm the specific motive behind the attack or whether the confiscated carbine-style firearm and motorcycle were directly used in the attack. The current status and findings of the investigation instructed by President Arévalo remain unconfirmed.