# Former Guatemalan Anti-Corruption Prosecutor Assassinated in Guatemala City

> Juan Francisco Solorzano Foppa, a prominent former prosecutor, was killed in an attack that also left another person dead and three injured in Guatemala City on October 17, 2026.

By PrimaryBrief newsroom · Published 2026-10-18T06:19:58.600584Z
Canonical: https://primarybrief.com/article/former-guatemalan-anti-corruption-prosecutor-assassinated-in-guatemala-city-26dbc40b

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 [1][2][3].

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 [6].

## 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 [1][2][3][6]. He was playing in a soccer match when armed men attacked the field [2][3]. Gustavo Adolfo Aguilar Gamarro, 52, also died in the incident. Three wounded individuals were transported to a medical center for attention [2]. Guatemalan police detained two suspects in connection with the case shortly after the attack [2][5][7]. Officers seized a carbine-style firearm and a motorcycle [5][7]. 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 [2][5]. Arévalo stated that both the direct perpetrators and those who ordered the attack must face the full weight of the law [2][5].

## The timeline

Solorzano Foppa had a distinguished career in public service, focusing on anti-corruption efforts [3][5]. He served as director of Criminal Analysis within the Public Ministry from 2013 to 2016 [3]. From 2016 to 2018, he headed the Superintendency of Tax Administration (SAT) [3][5][7]. During his tenure, he led criminal intelligence in high-impact investigations [3]. He contributed expert reports to the "La Línea" case, which forced the resignation of then-President Otto Pérez Molina in 2015 [3]. As head of the tax authority, he initiated judicial interventions and inspections that resulted in significant collections of evaded taxes [3][5].

## 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 [3]. His dismissal from the SAT in 2018 was widely seen as politically motivated [9]. He remained a vocal anti-corruption activist and often faced retaliation [6]. 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 [3][5]. Prosecutors, judges, and lawyers involved in Guatemala's anti-corruption drive have experienced retaliation through criminal cases, imprisonment, or exile [6]. This situation highlights the fragile nature of the justice system, which President Arévalo has made a priority for his government [6].

## 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 [2]. In 2025, he alleged connections between the Barrio 18 gang and the National Unity of Hope party [5][7]. He also publicly referred to alleged links between criminal gangs and the judicial system [2][5][7]. 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" [8].

## What we could not confirm

We could not confirm the identities of the two individuals detained by police [2][5][7]. 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 [5][7]. The current status and findings of the investigation instructed by President Arévalo remain unconfirmed [2][5].

## Evidence cited
1. Guatemalan former prosecutor shot dead at sports centre (www.aljazeera.com) — https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/18/guatemalan-former-prosecutor-shot-dead-at-sports-centre?traffic_source=rss
2. El abogado Juan Francisco Solórzano Foppa, exjefe de la Superintendencia de Administración Tributaria, fue asesinado el sábado 17 de octubre durante un ataque armado en las canchas del Campo Marte, en la zona 5 de la Ciudad de Guatemala. El hecho dejó un segundo fallecido, identificado como Gustavo Adolfo Aguilar Gamarro, de 52 años, y al menos tres personas heridas mientras se realizaba una actividad deportiva. Los Bomberos Municipales recibieron varias llamadas a la línea 123 que alertaban sob (infobae.com) — https://infobae.com/
3. Solórzano Foppa, who was director of Criminal Analysis (2013-2016) of the Public Ministry and head of the Superintendency of Tax Administration (2016-2018), gained notoriety for leading criminal intelligence in high-impact investigations —including key expert reports in the 'La Línea' case that forced the resignation of President Otto Pérez Molina in 2015— and for taking on the defense of imprisoned journalist José Rubén Zamora Marroquín. 🚨 #URGENTE | Juan Francisco Solórzano Foppa, exfiscal del (telesurenglish.net) — https://telesurenglish.net/
4. GUATEMALA CITY — When Juan Francisco Solorzano Foppa ... Linea,” that customs officials had established ... cases like those Foppa himself once prosecuted. (financialpost.com) — https://financialpost.com/
5. Oct 17 (Reuters) - Guatemalan lawyer Juan Francisco Solorzano Foppa, known for his high-profile fight against corruption in the Central American country, died after being shot on Saturday by two men while visiting a sports center in Guatemala City, a crime condemned by President Bernardo Arevalo. Solorzano Foppa was a 43-year-old former prosecutor and anti-corruption lawyer who denounced wrongdoing by some of Guatemala's most powerful politicians, business leaders and companies, and in 2023 brie (internazionale.it) — https://internazionale.it/
6. (Bloomberg) -- Former Guatemalan anti-corruption prosecutor Juan Francisco Solórzano Foppa was shot dead in Guatemala City, reviving concern over the safety of the justice officials who take on powerful political and criminal interests in the country. The 43-year-old lawyer and former tax chief was shot along with another man at the Campo Marte sports complex Saturday, according to police. Police arrested two suspects. Prosecutors, judges and lawyers associated with Guatemala's anti-corruption d (livemint.com) — https://livemint.com/
7. On Saturday, 43-year-old anti-corruption lawyer Juan Francisco Solorzano Foppa was shot and killed by two men while visiting a sports center in Guatemala City. Known for his anti-corruption work, Foppa prosecuted powerful figures as head of the Criminal Investigations Directorate and later led the SAT tax authority from 2016 to 2018. In 2025, Foppa alleged connections between the Barrio 18 gang and the National Unity of Hope party; he also briefly defended journalist Jose Ruben Zamora in 2023. S (ground.news) — https://ground.news/
8. GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Guatemala's national police arrested an outspoken opponent of the government Wednesday on charges he falsified documents to form a political party. Juan Francisco Solorzano Foppa is a lawyer who once served as head of the country's tax collection agency. In recent years, he has criticized the administration of President Alejandro Giammattei and slammed what he claimed was the political use of law enforcement. Prosecutors said he was arrested for criminal conspiracy and fals (apnews.com) — https://apnews.com/
9. Juan Francisco Solórzano Foppa, the crusading head of Guatemala's notoriously graft-ridden tax agency, has been fired from his post, in the latest sign that the forces that control the levers of power in Guatemala are prepared to eliminate opponents of the corrupt system to which they belong. Solórzano Foppa, or Foppa as everyone calls him, was fired from Guatemala's Internal Revenue Service (Superintendencia de Administración Tributaria – SAT), after the Finance Ministry said he had missed the  (insightcrime.org) — https://insightcrime.org/
10. Conmoción por el asesinato de Solórzano Foppa durante un partido en Guatemala. Redacción BM Online• 17 de octubre de 2026 a las 03:00 p. m. •Ciudad de Guatemala. Guardar. Compartir. Hombre con traje azul marino y corbata celeste sentado en un sillón gris frente a una. El violento asesinato de Solórzano Foppa, exjefe de la Superintendencia de Administración Tributaria de Guatemala, causó una profunda conmoción tras confirmarse su deceso durante una balacera en la capital de ese país. El atentado  (brunomasi.com.py) — https://brunomasi.com.py/
11. Confirman identidad del otro asesinado junto a Solórzano Foppa. 17 de octubre de 2026. Confirman identidad del otro asesinado junto a Solórzano Foppa. Ataque armadoCampo MarteViolencia. Compartir: Copiar. La Policía Nacional Civil (PNC) confirmó la identidad de la segunda víctima mortal que dejó el ataque armado registrado en el Campo Marte, zona 5 capitalina, atentado en el que también perdió la vida el abogado y exjefe de la SAT, Juan Francisco Solórzano Foppa. De acuerdo con el reporte oficia (lared1061.com) — https://lared1061.com/
12. Los cuerpos de socorro informaron que atendieron llamadas que denunciaban un ataque armado en un complejo deportivo, y al llegar al lugar encontraron los cuerpos de dos personas. Algunas versiones de testigos que circularon minutos después del ataque armado señalan que dos hombres ingresaron al campo y dispararon. Algunos señalan que el ataque fue directo hacia Solórzano Foppa y que la otra víctima identificada como Gustavo Aguilar Gamarro, fue alcanzada por una bala perdida. La Policía Nacional (prensacomunitaria.org) — https://prensacomunitaria.org/
13. El ministro de Gobernación, Marco Antonio Villeda, ofreció una conferencia de prensa para brindar detalles preliminares sobre el asesinato del abogado Juan Francisco Solórzano Foppa y Gustavo Adolfo Aguilar Gamarro, ocurrido en el campo Marte, zona 5 capitalina. Según explicó el ministro, las primeras líneas de investigación apuntan a la posible participación de cuatro personas que habrían llegado al lugar vestidas con prendas deportivas. Hasta el momento, dos hombres identificados como Rigobert (tvaztecaguate.com) — https://tvaztecaguate.com/
14. Las autoridades en Guatemala confirmaron que la mañana del sábado murió baleado el abogado Juan Francisco Solórzano Foppa, quien ejerció como fiscal contra pandillas y fue superintendente de la Administración Tributaria.
...
(October 17 2026) CIUDAD DE GUATEMALA — Las autoridades en Guatemala confirmaron que la mañana del sábado murió baleado el abogado Juan Francisco Solórzano Foppa, quien ejerció como fiscal contra pandillas y fue superintendente de la Administración Tributaria. Según la Polic (latimes.com) — https://latimes.com/
15. Uno de los dos detenidos por su presunta vinculación con la muerte del exfiscal Juan Francisco Solórzano Foppa negó estar involucrado en el ataque armado ocurrido en Campo Marte. Estas fueron sus declaraciones durante su traslado a Torre de Tribunales. #Guatemala #CampoMarte #SolórzanoFoppa Suscríbete a nuestro canal → https://bit.ly/canalantiguatv Infórmate sobre las noticias desde nuestra web → https://canalantigua.tv ¡Y no te olvides de seguirnos en redes sociales! TikTok → https://www.tiktok (youtube.com) — https://youtube.com/
16. Urgent: Guatemala arrests opposition leaders as Biden administration continues to support corrupt regime. May 19, 2021. GuatemalaSolidarityProject.org. The Guatemala Solidarity Project urgently condemns the shocking arrest this morning of Juan Francisco Solorzano Foppa and other leading anti-corruption activists. Foppa, as he is commonly known as in Guatemala, was stopped by nonpolice vehicles that had no license plates and later told that he and 15 others have arrest warrants related to their c (guatemalasolidarityproject.org) — https://guatemalasolidarityproject.org/
17. (MENAFN- Live Mint) (Bloomberg) -- Former Guatemalan anti-corruption prosecutor Juan Francisco Solórzano Foppa was shot dead in Guatemala City, reviving concern over the safety of the justice officials who take on powerful political and criminal interests in the country. The 43-year-old lawyer and former tax chief was shot along with another man at the Campo Marte sports complex Saturday, according to police. Police arrested two suspects. Prosecutors, judges and lawyers associated with Guatemala (menafn.com) — https://menafn.com/
18. ... Solórzano Foppa this Saturday in Guatemala City (Guatemala), Oct. 17, 2026. EFE/ Guatemala Municipal Fire Department / EDITORIAL USE ONLY—NOT FOR SALE / AVAILABLE ONLY TO ILLUSTRATE THE ACCOMPANYING NEWS STORY (CREDIT REQUIRED). Guatemala's former anti-corruption prosecutor murdered on a soccer field. 17 octubre 2026 ... Guatemala City, Oct 17 (EFE).- Guatemalan attorney and former anti-corruption prosecutor Juan Francisco Solórzano was killed on Saturday by several hitmen at a sports comple (efe.com) — https://efe.com/