Alejandro Arcos, the newly elected mayor of Chilpancingo, was found murdered on Sunday, just six days after assuming office. His death is part of a wave of violence gripping the region, widely attributed to drug cartel activity.
The discovery of Arcos’s remains came just days after his administration’s new secretary, Francisco Tapia, was also shot and killed.
Guerrero’s state governor, Evelyn Salgado, expressed sorrow and outrage, stating the killing “fills us with indignation” as the city now mourns two officials lost to violence in less than a week.
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 seen a surge in political violence, particularly 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, over 450,000 people have been murdered, with thousands more missing, as the violence continues to ravage Mexico.
