AP News intern Armando Montano found dead in elevator shaft in Mexico City

Authorities in Mexico are investigating the death of a 22-year-old American man whose body was found in an elevator shaft in Mexico City.

Armando Montano’s body was found early Saturday morning inside an apartment building close to where he had been living in Condesa.

Montano, who was an aspiring journalist working as a news intern for The Associated Press, had been working in Mexico City since graduating from Grinnell College in early June.

The Associated Press said Montano, who was planning to attend the University of Barcelona in the fall for his master’s degree in journalism, was not on assignment at the time of his death.

Richard Berke, an assistant managing editor at The New York Times remembered Montano was a standout young journalist when he worked at the newspaper last December and January covering the Iowa presidential caucuses as a news intern.

Berke said Montano had a “rare passion and exuberance for life and for people.  He accomplished so much and touched so many in a short time, and his potential was truly limitless.”

The AP Executive Editor Kathleen Carroll said “The loss of this vibrant young journalist is a shock to his colleagues and the long list of people who called Armando friend.”

Montano is survived by his parents, Diane Alters and Mario Montano, of Colorado Springs.