The mayor of a Mexican city was found dead just six days after taking office, adding to the wave of violence plaguing the country’s Guerrero state.
Alejandro Arcos Catalán, the 43-year-old mayor of Chilpancingo, was discovered beheaded in an alley, according to reports from CBS News and local Mexican media on Monday. His body was found inside a vehicle, with his head placed on top of the car, media outlets Reforma and El Universal reported.
Arcos Catalán, a member of the center-left opposition Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), had won the election in June and assumed office on September 30. His gruesome killing has intensified concerns about violence targeting public officials in the region.
Guerrero, with Chilpancingo as its capital, has long suffered from high levels of poverty and violence driven by powerful drug cartels. The state prosecutor’s office issued a brief statement, saying, “We are working with the police to gather the necessary evidence and clarify the circumstances of the crime.”
Recent incidents of violence in Guerrero have included the murders of high-ranking city officials and former police directors. Last summer, after the arrest of two leaders of the Los Ardillos gang on weapons and drug charges, cartel affiliates retaliated by blocking highways and seizing police armored vehicles.
Authorities suspect that a cartel may be responsible for Arcos Catalán’s death. During a regular press conference, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said, “We are conducting thorough investigations to determine the motive behind this incident, and arrests will follow based on the findings.” She also announced plans to unveil a comprehensive strategy to strengthen public safety on Tuesday.
