Alejandro Arcos, the newly elected mayor of Chilpancingo, was found mu*dered on Sunday, just six days after he took office.
This tragic incident marks just another victims in a troubling surge of violence engulfing the area, which is often linked to the activities of drug cartels.
The discovery of Alejandro Arcos’s body occurred just days after his new administration’s Secretary of the Department, Francisco Tapia, was also shot and k*lled.
Evelyn Salgado, the Governor of the state of Guerrero, expressed her grief and anger, stating, “This k*lling fills us with indignation as the city mourns the loss of two officials to violence in such a short span of time.”
Authorities have not released any details regarding suspects or motives, but Guerrero, located on Mexico’s Pacific coast, is notorious for drug cartel activity and power struggles between local gangs. Chilpancingo, a city of around 280,000 people, has long been a focal point for violent turf wars between rival gangs, including the Ardillos and Tlacos.
Arcos, who had only recently begun his term, had been actively involved in disaster relief efforts following last month’s Hurricane John, which caused widespread flooding in the region. In the hours before his death, his social media accounts showed him meeting with local relief workers and residents.
Senator Alejandro Moreno called Arcos and Tapia “young and honest officials who sought progress for their community.” He urged the federal government to take control of the investigation, citing Guerrero’s deep-rooted problems with lawlessness.
Arcos’s political party, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), condemned the violence, demanding justice and safety for the people of Guerrero, who “do not deserve to live in fear.”
The state has experienced a significant increase in political violence, especially during election periods, with at least six candidates killed in the lead-up to Mexico’s June 2 elections.
Since the government’s militarized crackdown on drug cartels began in 2006, the country has seen over 450,000 people killed, with thousands more reported missing, as the violence continues to devastate Mexico.
