Chilpancingo Mayor Alejandro Arcos was assassinated on October 6, 2024, less than a week after taking office. Arcos was 43 years old and mayor for six days before he was killed. The BBC reports that authorities confirmed his murder after an unverified image circulated on social media with what appeared to be his remains. Arcos’ body was found inside his pickup truck, while his head was found propped on top of the vehicle.
Moreover, the authorities have released very few details about the investigation, including the suspects. The Washington Post adds that there were only sparse details of Arcos’ impending death as he left his staff to attend a private meeting before his death, and did not request any formal protection for this meeting. Secretary of Security Garcia Harfuch told Reuters, “We know that he was going to a specific meeting, that he was not accompanied by someone. Communication was lost in a community, and… hours later the mayor’s body was found.” Arcos’ death was only three days after Chilpancingo’s secretary Francisco Tapia’s assassination.
The Southwestern state of Guerrero where Chilpancingo is located has a population of 280,000–and is known for its heavy cartel crime. The BBC writes, “Guerrero is one of the worst-affected states for drug violence and drug cartels have murdered dozens of politicians across the country.” Moreover, ABC News writes the city of Chilpancingo is notable for its turf wars between the two rival gangs, the Tlacos and the Ardillos.
AP News also reports that in 2023, the Ardillos organized a demonstration with hundreds of people blocking off a highway for two days and holding ten members of the state police and National Guard, demanding the release of two detained gang leaders. In addition, the New York Post reports that “Guerrero has become one of the deadliest states for local-level politicians and journalists” and that six public office candidates were killed leading up to the June elections. Only a day after Arcos’ remains were found, the Washington Post reported that four mayors in Mexico have sought the federal authorities for protection.
Moreover, Mexico saw one of the bloodiest elections earlier this year. El Pais reports that leading up to the June elections, 11 candidates were kidnapped, 77 were threatened, and 30 candidates were murdered. In total, more than 170 attacks were committed against political candidates leading up to this election.
Arcos was known for his resolve to protect the people of Chilpancingo. During his short tenure, NPR reports on Arcos speaking to provide peace to Chilpancingo: “I ask you with my heart in hand to help me fight to create peace, a peace that we all need.” Alejandro Moreno, a Mexican senator, told the BBC that both Arcos and former Mayor Tapia were “young and honest officials who sought progress for their community.”
Arcos’s Institutional Revolutionary Party took to social media to discuss both Arcos’ and Tapia’s deaths, stating on X, “Enough of violence and impunity! The people of Guerrero do not deserve to live in fear”.
Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum also discussed her plans focusing on security strength following Arcos’ death. Al Jazeera reports that Sheinbaum declared, “The war on drugs will not return,” referencing the United States initiative to combat drug crime back in 2006. Sheinbaum furthers this initiative by saying she’ll address the root of anti-democratic crime, such as poverty. Sheinbaum adds that she will not use extreme measures to combat drug crime: “We are not looking for extrajudicial executions, which is what was happening before,” she said. “What are we going to use? Prevention, attention to the causes, intelligence and [law enforcement] presence.”
Mexico has been known for its anti-democratic crime, demonstrated through the death of multiple politicians–including Mayor Chilpancingo Alejandro Arcos. Moreover, the BBC reports that “450,000 people have been murdered and tens of thousands have gone missing across Mexico since the government deployed the army to combat drug trafficking in 2006.” This exposes the dire need for new security measures to combat the crime that plagues Mexico, especially crime regarding anti-democratic rhetoric shown through gangs such as the Ardillos and Tlacos. The death of Mayor Alejandro Arcos will hopefully spur the federal government to take more action to protect politicians and Mexican citizens.
