Mexican Mayor Jesús Eduardo Franco and Three Others Killed in Organized Crime Attack

A mayor in Mexico’s San Luis Potosi state, Jesús Eduardo Franco of the ruling Morena party, was fatally shot on Sunday after 6 days of taking office along with three others. The victims were found dead inside a vehicle, according to the state prosecutor’s office.

Morena party president Rita Rodríguez expressed sorrow over the loss, urging authorities to investigate thoroughly and bring the perpetrators to justice. The killings underscore the ongoing violence that has plagued local officials in Mexico, often tied to organized crime.

This attack is part of a larger pattern of violence targeting public officials. Last month, Alejandro Arcos, a mayor in Guerrero state, was gruesomely murdered and decapitated shortly after taking office, his head left on a truck.

Since the Mexican government deployed the army to combat drug trafficking in 2006, over 450,000 people have been murdered, with thousands still missing, highlighting the country’s persistent security crisis.

Local officials, particularly in areas dominated by organized crime, are often targets of violence, as criminal groups seek to exert control over municipal governments. This has created a dangerous climate for politicians, particularly in rural and crime-ridden regions.

The deaths of Jesús Eduardo Franco and the others have sparked calls for stronger protections for local leaders and a reassessment of strategies to combat organized crime and violence across Mexico.

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