Salvador Villalva Flores, the recently elected mayor of a small coastal town in Guerrero, Mexico, was tragically killed on Monday, as per AP. Reports indicate that Villalva was on a bus in San Pedro las Playas when he was shot in the head by an unidentified attacker, resulting in his immediate death. San Pedro las Playas is situated around two hours away from Copala, where Villalva emerged victorious in the mayoral election on June 2.
The Guerrero state prosecutor’s office, responsible for the investigation, has not yet disclosed any additional details regarding the reasons or the individuals responsible for this appalling crime. Guerrero, known for its picturesque beaches, is also a hotspot for violent confrontations between various criminal groups competing for control over the region, as stated by the news source.
Mayor-elect pulled off bus and assassinated near resort city of Acapulco https://t.co/b0BzpDSilU #LocalElections #PoliticalViolence #Assassination
— Beloud (@beloudcom) June 17, 2024
According to a report by AP, this act of assassination is indicative of a concerning pattern of violence directed towards political figures in Mexico. Data Civica, a human rights organization, has highlighted that approximately 34 political candidates were killed in the months leading up to and following the June elections. These incidents shed light on the precarious security situation prevalent in various parts of the country, where political figures often find themselves as targets.
As per CBS News, it was previously documented that Cotija Mayor Yolanda Sanchez Figueroa and her bodyguard were tragically shot and killed in a bold attack on June 3. This assassination took place merely a day after Claudia Sheinbaum, the first female president of the country, was elected. Yolanda Sanchez, who assumed office in 2021, was ambushed outside a gym and shot 19 times by assailants traveling in a white truck. The perpetrators swiftly fled the scene, leaving behind a scene of horror and shock.