A mayoral candidate in Mexico was assassinated on May 29 in front of supporters during a campaign rally in Coyuca de Benitez, Guerrero. The incident, which was captured on camera, adds to the growing number of political assassinations during Mexico’s 2024 election cycle.
Alfredo Cabrera, the mayoral candidate, was greeting supporters at his final campaign stop on Wednesday when a gunman approached him from behind and fired at point-blank range. The video shows Cabrera smiling and preparing to address the crowd of approximately 300 people before the fatal shots were fired.
Eyewitnesses reported that the gunman was immediately killed at the scene, and the crowd quickly descended into chaos, with panicked screams and multiple gunshots heard in the background. The National Guard present at the event responded swiftly, neutralizing the assailant.
Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado condemned the assassination, describing it as a “cowardly act.” She urged the Attorney General’s Office of the State of Guerrero to conduct a thorough investigation to ensure that those responsible face justice. The state prosecutor’s office confirmed that the alleged attacker was killed at the scene, and the investigation is ongoing.
Cabrera’s assassination is part of a broader pattern of violence targeting political candidates in Mexico. The 2024 election cycle has been marked by unprecedented violence, with at least 36 candidates murdered. This wave of violence has made it the bloodiest election in the country’s history.
Just a day before Cabrera’s assassination, a mayoral candidate in the central state of Morelos, Ricardo Arizmendi, was killed, and another candidate, Gilberto Palomar, was wounded by gunfire in Jalisco state. These incidents underscore the severe security challenges faced by candidates across Mexico.
The violence against political figures is often attributed to the influence of drug cartels and organized crime groups seeking to control local governments. Since the Mexican government deployed the military to combat drug trafficking in 2006, over 450,000 people have been killed, and tens of thousands remain missing. This ongoing conflict poses a significant challenge for the next Mexican president, Claudia Sheinbaum.
President Sheinbaum has pledged to continue the current administration’s “hugs not bullets” strategy, focusing on social programs to address the root causes of violence. Her main opponent, Xóchitl Gálvez, advocated for a tougher stance on cartel-related violence.
Sheinbaum expressed her condolences for Cabrera’s family and supporters, stating, “We must ensure that our electoral process is safe and that our democracy is protected.” Gálvez also condemned the attack, calling Cabrera “a generous and upstanding man” and demanding stronger measures to protect political candidates.
The Mexican government announced that 27,000 soldiers and National Guard members were deployed to reinforce security on Election Day, Sunday, June 2.
Political analyst Alejandro Moreno noted, “The violence we are witnessing is a direct threat to Mexico’s democratic institutions. The government must take decisive action to protect candidates and ensure the integrity of the elections.”
The U.S. State Department has also expressed concern over the rising violence in Mexico, urging the Mexican government to take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of its citizens and the stability of its democratic processes.
