Two senior officials in the Mexico City government were shot and killed Tuesday in what local authorities are calling a "direct attack" that further highlights ongoing violence against political figures in the country.
Ximena Guzmán, personal secretary to Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada, and José Muñoz, an adviser, were killed by gunmen on a motorcycle while in the Moderna neighborhood of the capital.
Brugada confirmed the deaths in a public statement and described the attack as intentional. "There will be no impunity. Those responsible will be arrested and must face justice," she said.
Con profunda tristeza me permito informar lo siguiente:
Surveillance footage published by El Pais shows a helmeted attacker firing at close range at both victims near their vehicle on Calzada de Tlalpan. The gunmen then fled the scene on a motorcycle. Authorities are reviewing security camera footage and have mobilized federal and local intelligence agencies to investigate.
President Claudia Sheinbaum, who previously served as mayor of Mexico City and is a political ally of Brugada, also condemned the attack during her daily press conference. "All necessary support is being provided to ensure a thorough investigation," she said, noting the involvement of the National Intelligence Center and federal defense institutions.
🇲🇽 | ÚLTIMA HORA — Claudia Sheinbaum confirma que Ximena Guzmán y José Muñoz, secretaria y asesor de la Jefa de Gobierno, fueron asesinados en CDMX. pic.twitter.com/Z89JRBTt8e
— UHN Plus (@UHN_Plus) May 20, 2025
The killings come just days after another deadly incident involving political figures. On May 12, Yesenia Lara, the Morena party's mayoral candidate in Texistepec, Veracruz, was fatally shot during a campaign event along with three supporters. Veracruz Governor Rocío Nahle vowed justice, stating, "No position is worth a person's life."
Violence against political figures continues to mount ahead of the 2025 elections. In recent months, local officials and candidates across multiple states—including Jalisco and Guerrero—have been killed, with many of the attacks suspected to be linked to organized crime.
While violence against politicians is widespread in regional areas, incidents in Mexico City remain comparatively rare. Brugada, visibly shaken, pledged to continue "the unrelenting fight against insecurity" and called for unity within her administration. Guzmán and Muñoz were described by Brugada as trusted colleagues with deep roots in the city's political movement.
© 2025 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
