This article is more than 7 years old

This article is more than 7 years old

The owner-editor of a Brazilian website noted for its investigative journalism has been shot dead after receiving death threats.

Eduardo Carvalho, 51, was shot several times by gunmen in front of his home in Campo Grande, capital of Mato Grosso do Sul state.

His site, Ultima Hora News, specialised in publishing stories about corruption and abuse of authority that were openly critical of both politicians and police.

Carvalho, a former military police officer, had reported having received death threats. He had also been the subject of numerous criminal defamation and insult complaints.

In a special report published in March this year, the International Press Insitute (IPI) expressed concern over a rise in violent attacks against journalists in South America's largest country.

According to IPI's Death Watch, Carvalho is the fifth journalist to be killed this year in Brazil. Another report said his was the third "execution-style" murder of a journalist this year.

Sources: IPI/Global Post