Murder of Mexican mayor: ‘Decapitated, head left on pick-up’: Mexican mayor murdered six days after taking office

A portrait of Alejandro Arcos, the mayor of Chilpancingo (Photo Credit: Reuters)

The mayor of Chilpancingo, a city in southern Mexico, was assassinated less than a week after taking office.
Local reports said so Alejandro Arcosthe newly elected mayor, was beheaded and left his head on a pickup truck, although authorities have not officially confirmed this.
Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the crime on Monday, calling it “deplorable.”
An investigation is underway to determine the motive and identify those involved in the crime, as President Sheinbaum stated at a press conference.
The incident adds to the wave of violence against politicians in Guerrero state, which is known for its history of cartel-related bloodshed. Arcos’ death occurred just three days after the new secretary of the city government, Francisco Tapia, was shot and killed.
Guerrero State Governor Evelyn Salgado expressed outrage over Arcos’ killing, calling it deeply disturbing, but she did not share more details.
The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which backed Arcos in the June elections, condemned the killing as a “cowardly crime” and called for justice, urging an end to violence in the region.
Arcos had recently posted on social media about his visits to local areas affected by a hurricane, demonstrating his commitment to his people.
After his death, Arcos’ family paid tribute to him and described his dedication to peace and service.
Guerrero state, plagued by cartel violencerecorded 1,890 murders last year. Mexico as a whole has seen more than 450,000 murders since the government’s crackdown on drug cartels in 2006.
Tackling cartel violence is a key challenge for President Sheinbaum, who is expected to unveil her security plan. She aims to improve intelligence and research efforts in violence-ridden states like Guerrero.