The mayor of Temixco, Mexico (south of Mexico City) was shot and killed on Saturday, less than a day after she took office, according to officials.
Gunmen opened fire on Mayor Gisela Mota at her residence in the city, said the government of Morelos state, where Temixco is located. Two of the presumed assailants were killed and three others were detained after a chase according to Morelos security commissioner Jesus Alberto Capella. He also said that the suspects fired on federal police and soldiers from a vehicle.
Governor of Morelos Graco Ramirez attributed Mota’s killing to organized crime via Twitter without citing any particular drug cartel or gang. Drug cartels seeking to control communities and towns and run unbothered have often targeted local officials and mayors in Mexico.
Mota was a former federal congresswoman and her leftist Democratic Revolution Party released a statement describing her as “a strong and brave woman who on taking office as mayor, declared that her fight against crime would be frontal and direct.”
Temixco has a population around 100,000 people and neighbors Cuernavaca, a resort and industrial city which has been suffering kidnappings and extortion linked to multiple organized crime groups. Cuernavaca is the official capital of Morelos, but Temixco is the seat of several state institutions including the Public Security Commission that coordinates state and local police forces. Morelos borders the drug-cartel-plagued Guerrero state.
Gov. Ramirez vowed there “would be no impunity” in her killing and announced that state officials would not cede to what he called “a challenge from criminals”.
No further details were provided regarding the attack, but authorities found a 9-millimeter gun, an Uzi, ski masks, and an SUV with Mexico State license plates.
Morelos Attorney General Javier Perez Duron stated that the detained suspects are tied to other crimes, but did not volunteer further information.