Mexican mayor in state plagued with violence killed days after taking office

An investigation is underway into the murder of a mayor in Mexico just six days after he was inaugurated. Mexican police say that Mayor Alejandro Arcos was killed on Sunday, Oct. 6, in Chilpancingo, the capital city of the Guerrero state, which has been plagued with gang violence.

Authorities confirmed the killing after pictures on WhatsApp appeared to show Arcos’ severed head on top of a pickup truck. The photos have not been verified and state prosecutors did not release specific details about the mayor’s death.

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The mayor’s death comes a few days after the city’s newly elected government secretary died in a shooting.

National leaders and the governor of the Guerrero state condemned the killings, with Sen. Alejandro Moreno, the national leader of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, saying, “They were young and honest officials who sought progress for their community.”

Guerrero is one of the deadliest states in Mexico for government officials and journalists. At least six candidates for elected office were reportedly killed in the state in the lead up to Mexico’s June 2 national elections.

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The capital city has also seen bloody turf wars between two drug gangs and a previous mayor of the city was caught on camera holding a meeting with the leader of one of the gangs at a restaurant. Following the release of the video, she was ousted from her political party.

Additionally, federal authorities say in 2023 that gangsters kidnapped 10 members of the state police and the national guard during a protest over the arrest of two gang members. The gang held the group hostage until the inmates were released.