With an investigation barely under way, Mexican journalist protection groups are already expressing fears that authorities will not consider the brutal killing of a photojournalist as being related to his work — even though he fled the state he covered fearing for his safety.

Tropical Storm Ingrid and the remnants of Tropical Storm Manuel have drenched Mexico’s Pacific and Gulf coasts with torrential rains, flooding towns and cities and sparking a national emergency that authorities said had caused at least 33 deaths.