The mayor of Chilpancingo, a city in southern Mexico, was murdered less than a week after assuming office.
Local reports said that Alejandro Arcos, the newly elected mayor, was decapitated, and his head left on a pick-up truck, though authorities have not officially confirmed this.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the crime on Monday calling it “deplorable.”
An investigation is ongoing to determine the motive and identify the individuals involved in the crime, as stated by President Sheinbaum at a press conference.
This incident adds to the wave of violence against politicians in Guerrero state, known for its history of cartel-related bloodshed. Arcos’ death occurred just three days after the new city government’s secretary Francisco Tapia, was shot and killed.
Guerrero state governor Evelyn Salgado expressed her outrage over Arcos’s murder, calling it deeply upsetting, but she did not share more details.
The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which backed Arcos in the June election, condemned the killing as a ‘cowardly crime’ and called for justice, urging an end to the violence in the region.
Arcos had recently posted on social media about his visits to local areas affected by a hurricane, demonstrating his commitment to his people.
After his death, Arcos’s family paid tribute to him, describing his commitment to peace and service.
Guerrero state, plagued by cartel violence, recorded 1,890 murders last year. Mexico as a whole has seen over 450,000 killings since the government’s 2006 crackdown on drug cartels.
Tackling cartel violence is a key challenge for President Sheinbaum, who is expected to reveal her security plan. She aims to enhance intelligence and investigative efforts in violence-stricken states like Guerrero.