Mexican Mayor Assassinated in Bold Attack on City Hall; Second in Oaxaca This Year

Gunmen have murdered the mayor of San Mateo Piñas in Mexico, marking another deadly attack on local leaders. Witnesses report that four gunmen on motorcycles arrived at the village hall, stormed inside, and opened fire.

The target was Mayor Lilia Gema García Soto, who was in a meeting with a local official, Eli García Ramírez. Both were shot, and two municipal police officers were injured during the assault.

Authorities are still working to find the motive behind the killing. Many local officials face threats from criminal gangs for refusing to cooperate or meet their demands. García Soto is the second mayor in Oaxaca state to be assassinated this year. In May, the mayor of Santiago Amoltepec was killed in an ambush, along with two others who were in the vehicle.

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The governor of Oaxaca has condemned the attack and promised that justice will be served. Security forces are actively searching for the four gunmen, who managed to escape. The state prosecutor’s office has dispatched federal agents to assist in locating the suspects.

Violence against politicians and candidates in Mexico has been increasing over recent years. The number of attacks rose sharply ahead of last year’s elections. Most incidents happen in small towns where organized crime is strong. Last month, two top aides to Mexico City’s mayor were shot dead, signaling a rise in violence that shocked the nation.