THE 12th journalist killed in Mexico this year was shot by a lone gunman at his son’s school Christmas party.

Gemaro Perez worked for Golfo Sur and Voz del Sur, among other media organisations, writing about security and drug trafficking.

The killer burst into his six-year-old son’s classroom and shot Mr Perez four times on Tuesday.

His death makes 2017 the deadliest year on record for media workers in Mexico, with Reporters Without Borders saying the murder ranks the country alongside Syria as one of the two most dangerous places to be a journalist.

Journalists group Asociacion de Periodistas Independientes de Acayucan said:  “We’re in shock, waiting for them to hand over the body and see what we're going to do together with his family.”

News website Plumas Libres founder Miguel Angel Diaz said: “It continues being the same nightmare. Nothing and no-one protects us. Criminals have permission to do as they want.”

The Mexican government has so far failed to obtain any convictions for the murders of reporters.