New Evidence Surfaces Following Rush-Hour Street Shooting of Mayor’s Aides in Mexico City
Mexico City Murders Stir Concerns Over Safety of Public Officials
The murders of two Mexico City officials, carried out during rush-hour on a bustling avenue, have left residents reeling. Prosecutors have described the attack as meticulously planned by experienced gunmen, marking the worst assault against public officials in the capital in recent years.
Authorities revealed that at least four people were involved in the killing of the personal secretary and a close adviser to Mexico City’s Mayor Clara Brugada. The city’s police chief, Pablo Vázquez Camacho, noted that investigators had traced a motorcycle and two other vehicles used in the gunmen’s escape after they targeted the officials Tuesday morning on a busy thoroughfare.
The victims, Ximena Guzmán, Brugada’s personal secretary, and José Muñoz, an adviser, were shot dead in Guzmán’s car. The chief prosecutor, Bertha Alcalde Luján, said the shooter fled on a motorcycle hidden nearby and switched vehicles twice during their escape into neighboring Mexico State.
Clothing found in the vehicles is being analyzed as part of the investigation. Despite these efforts, authorities have yet to determine a motive for the murders. Guzmán was struck by eight bullets while Muñoz was hit four times.
Alcalde suggested that “it was a direct attack with significant planning and those involved had previous experience.” Surveillance of the victims had reportedly been conducted days before the attack, indicating prior knowledge of their routines. Yet, investigators are cautious about linking these events to organized crime groups without further evidence.
The attack occurred at around 7 a.m., leaving visible bullet holes on the driver’s side of Guzmán’s car windshield. Despite receiving training for self-protection, neither Guzmán nor Muñoz had special security measures.
President Claudia Sheinbaum refrained from speculating on any organized crime involvement during her press briefing. As commuters passed by the crime scene the following day, some paused to acknowledge handwritten messages and flowers left in memory of the two victims.
Loretta García Oriz, a university student, recounted passing the site when it was still active with police presence. “Passing here gives me the same trauma,” she remarked. Nearby vendor Oscar Sánchez shared his surprise upon learning about the attack after it happened. “It doesn’t matter if you’re an official or an average person,” he stated. “It’s all the same.”
In recent weeks, authorities have made notable arrests of criminal cell leaders in Mexico City, according to Vázquez Camacho. These efforts are part of ongoing attempts to dismantle such networks across the capital.
Historically seen as a relatively safe haven from drug cartel violence rampant elsewhere in Mexico, this perception of Mexico City has faced challenges. A high-profile attack in 2020 targeted then-police chief Omar García Harfuch with heavy weaponry; he survived but others did not.
Elsewhere in Mexico, violence against politicians persists. In Veracruz earlier this month, a mayoral candidate and others were shot dead. Such incidents underscore concerns over safety for political figures nationwide.
The killings of Guzmán and Muñoz serve as a grim reminder of these challenges and provoke questions about ensuring safety for public officials amid growing threats.
For more details, see this background on crime trends.
