Local prosecutors have reported that the mayor-elect of a small town located close to the crime-ridden Mexican resort city of Acapulco was assassinated on Monday morning. Unfortunately, this incident is part of a series of attacks aimed at politicians in the region.
According to a statement from prosecutors in Guerrero state, Salvador Villalba Flores, who was slated to assume office in Copala, a town with a population of approximately 4,000 people situated roughly 80 miles southeast of Acapulco, was fatally shot while traveling on a highway.
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The murder case is under investigation by prosecutors, who have not disclosed any additional information at this time.
According to El Sur de Guerrero, Villalba, a retired Navy captain, was typically accompanied by National Guard escorts for protection. However, he was traveling alone to Mexico City when he was killed.
According to the outlet, the mayor-elect was shot after being taken off the bus he was traveling on, which had stopped near San Pedro las Playas.
According to reports from local media, Villalba made the decision to run for mayor following the tragic murder of a close friend who was also a candidate in June 2023.
Leftist Claudia Sheinbaum made history in Mexico’s general election on June 2, as she was overwhelmingly elected as the first female president of the country.
In addition to electing a new president, Mexican citizens cast their votes for numerous other positions, including members of Congress, various state governors, and countless local officials. All in all, over 20,000 positions were up for election.
According to a non-governmental organization called Data Civica, over two dozen political candidates have been killed since the start of Mexico’s campaign season in September.
In Guerrero, a local councilwoman was shot dead outside of her house earlier this month. This tragic incident occurred just a few days after the mayor of a town in western Mexico, along with her bodyguard, were killed outside of a gym. It is worth noting that these events took place just hours after Sheinbaum secured the presidency.
In the past, Acapulco used to be a popular destination for the wealthy and famous. However, in the last ten years, the city has lost its charm due to the violence that has made it one of the most dangerous places on earth. This has resulted in foreign tourists being afraid to visit the city, which has impacted the tourism industry.
In 2023, Guerrero, which is situated along Mexico’s Pacific coast and has been one of the states most affected by drug cartel violence, reported 1,890 murders.
Since the Mexican government deployed the army to combat drug trafficking in 2006, over 450,000 people have been brutally murdered, and thousands have gone missing.
