A city mayor in southern Mexico was murdered just days after taking office, sparking widespread outrage.
Authorities confirmed the killing, which occurred in Chilpancingo, the capital of Guerrero state. Local media reported that Alejandro Arcos, the recently elected mayor, was decapitated, although officials have not confirmed this detail.
The investigation is ongoing to identify those responsible and uncover the motive, according to President Claudia Sheinbaum, who condemned the murder as "deplorable."
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This tragedy follows a string of violent attacks targeting Mexican politicians, with Arcos being the second local official killed in recent days. Governor Evelyn Salgado expressed her anger at the crime but refrained from sharing further details.
Arcos, elected in June representing the opposition coalition, including the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), was described by the PRI as a "young and honest" leader who sought to bring progress to his community.
They called his assassination a "cowardly crime" and urged for an end to violence and impunity in Guerrero, a region plagued by drug cartel violence.
Hours before his death, Arcos had visited communities affected by a hurricane and shared the experience on social media. His family later paid tribute to his dedication to peace and service.
Guerrero, one of Mexico’s poorest and most violent states, is a hotspot for cartel turf wars over drug production and trafficking. In 2023 alone, the state recorded nearly 1,900 murders.
President Sheinbaum, who took office on October 1, faces the daunting task of addressing cartel violence.
She plans to unveil a new security strategy focused on increasing intelligence and coordination in high-crime states while continuing the "hugs not bullets" approach initiated by her predecessor.
