Just hours after Mexico elected its first female president in a historic move, a sitting female mayor was brutally murdered. This shocking incident occurred less than a day after the country celebrated the rise of women’s political power with the election of its first female president in 200 years.
According to media such as El Financiero and Reforma, Yolanda Sanchez Figueroa, the mayor of Cotija in the state of Michoacán, was killed in a gunfire attack on June 4.
Assailants had been lying in wait in downtown Cotija, and Figueroa was hit by 19 bullets. Unfortunately, she and her bodyguard died shortly after in a hospital.
Figueroa was elected as the first female mayor of Cotija in the 2021 elections. She was known for her strong stance against cartel violence as the town’s administrative head, which has a population of around 15,000 (based on the 2020 census by the Mexican Statistics Agency).
In cooperation with federal agencies, the state of Michoacán condemned the shooting and announced that a security operation is underway to find those responsible for the attack.
While no suspects have been arrested yet, local media speculate that gang members of the infamous Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) are likely behind the attack. The gang is known as a notorious drug trafficking organization in Mexico,
The CJNG is notorious for its involvement in kidnappings for ransom and drug trafficking, often targeting government officials who refuse to cooperate. They had previously threatened Figueroa when she opposed their attempts to take control of the local police force.
In September 2023, Figueroa was kidnapped by armed individuals while shopping and traveling with her family in the neighboring state of Jalisco. She was released after three days.
Following the kidnapping incident, Mexican authorities had beefed up personal security for Figueroa.
While the identities of the kidnappers remain unknown, local media strongly suspect CJNG gang members.
El Universal reported that a group known as “Calaveras” left an online message claiming responsibility for Figueroa’s murder. The group is believed to be a cell force following CJNG’s orders,
The murder occurred less than a day after Claudia Sheinbaum was elected as Mexico’s first female president.
