Key takeaways
Previous Survival: Mayor Valentin Lavin survived an earlier assassination attempt in January but was later shot dead in Temoac town hall, Morelos.
Crime Context: Mexico has seen nearly 100 mayors murdered since 2006, with 14 killed since October 2024, reflecting persistent drug cartel violence.
Government Response: Authorities are conducting operations to arrest the perpetrators, while President Claudia Sheinbaum cites a nearly 50% drop in homicides since September 2024 due to security policies.
A local mayor in central Mexico was shot dead in a town hall, authorities reported Wednesday, after the politician had survived a previous assassination attempt.
The town of Temoac is located in the state of Morelos, a region close to Mexico City where several drug cartels are active.
Mayor Valentin Lavin, who was allied to President Claudia Sheinbaum’s leftist party, had already survived an armed attack in January, according to local media reports.
Forensic experts and police officers located his dead body inside local government facilities, the state prosecutor’s office said.