Two pastors were murdered within days of each other in Mexico. The second death brings the total number of Christian leaders killed in Mexico since 2012 to 27.

Father José Martín Guzmán Vega was murdered August 22 according to the Catholic Media Center (CMC) while inside his church in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. That's just four days after Pastor Alfrery Líctor Cruz Canseco was murdered while sitting in his car outside his church on August 18.

"The priest was wounded several times with a knife; neighbours heard cries for help inside the parish, and as they approached they saw Father José Martín seriously injured," the paper reports. Vega was transferred to hospital where he was declared dead minutes later.

"Priests are at grave risk in Mexico as well as in Colombia, yet little attention is being paid to how grave the situation regarding criminal gangs targeting Mexican priests and pastors has become,” says Dede Laugesen, executive director of Save the Persecuted Christians.

The Bishop of Matamoros, Eugenio Lira Rugarcía, says "With deep pain, we announce the unfortunate death of the presbyter José Martín Guzmán Vega, of which the competent authorities have already begun investigations to clarify the facts and do justice. Meanwhile, we express our condolences to the Guzmán Vega family and the Cristo Rey de la Paz Parish Community, Ejido Santa Adelaida, and invite everyone to join in prayer to ask God for the eternal rest of Fr. Martin."

Violence has spiked in recent months in the town of Matamoros. Matamoros is located on the USA border in northeastern Mexico, sitting across the Rio Grande River from Brownsville, TX. The CMC says that on August 19 there were several shootings which injured and killed many, including a 10-year-old.