Victim and Son Attacked at Restaurant
A tragic incident unfolded in Morelia, Mexico, as Mayor Guillermo Torres, 39, was shot dead at a restaurant, while his 14-year-old son survived the attack. Torres, who recently switched political allegiances, was a member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party but had expressed support for the ruling Morena party.
Wave of Political Killings Before Elections
Torres joins a growing list of politicians targeted in the lead-up to the June 2 presidential elections in Mexico. The country has been plagued by violence and organized crime, with two mayoral candidates previously murdered in February. The alarming trend of political violence has claimed the lives of 50 individuals since June 2023, with drug cartels often behind the attacks.
Michoacan State: Battleground for Organized Crime
Michoacan, known for being Mexico’s primary avocado-producing region, has become a battleground for organized crime groups, including the notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The region has witnessed escalating violence, with incidents such as the recent decapitation of a state police officer and the killing of three farmers in a bomb blast.
Deadly Reality of Mexico’s Drug-Related Violence
The assassination of Mayor Guillermo Torres adds to the grim statistics of nearly 450,000 people murdered in Mexico since 2006 due to drug-related violence. The country continues to grapple with daily killings and abductions, underscoring the persistent challenges posed by criminal organizations.