Alejandro Arcos, the newly elected mayor of Chilpancingo, was tragically found murdered just six days after assuming office, in a case highlighting the violence gripping the region, largely attributed to drug cartel activity.
His body was discovered shortly after the assassination of Francisco Tapia, the new administration’s secretary, marking the second killing of a city official in less than a week. Guerrero’s governor, Evelyn Salgado, expressed outrage over the loss, emphasizing that the city now mourns two leaders lost to violence.
Though authorities have not identified any suspects or motives, the state of Guerrero is notorious for cartel conflicts, particularly between rival gangs like the Ardillos and Tlacos, who vie for control in Chilpancingo.
Arcos had recently been involved in disaster relief efforts following Hurricane John, which struck the region last month, causing widespread flooding. His social media had shown him meeting with relief workers and residents in the hours before his death.
Senator Alejandro Moreno praised Arcos and Tapia as “young, honest officials” committed to improving their community, urging federal authorities to take over the investigation due to Guerrero’s entrenched lawlessness. The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) also condemned the violence, calling for justice and security for the people of Guerrero.
This killing comes amid a rise in political violence across Mexico, with at least six candidates murdered in the run-up to the June 2 elections.
Since 2006, more than 450,000 people have been killed in the country’s ongoing drug cartel violence.
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