Mayoral contender Alfredo Cabrera was publicly murdered during a campaign event in Coyuca de Benitez, Guerrero, Mexico on May 29. This incident, caught on video, adds to the escalating count of political assassinations in Mexico’s 2024 election cycle.
Cabrera was in the process of greeting supporters at his final campaign rally on Wednesday when an armed aggressor approached him from behind and shot him at point-blank range. The video captures Cabrera, moments before the fatal shots, smiling and preparing to address a crowd of roughly 300 people.
Witnesses at the scene reported that the shooter was promptly neutralized, leading to an immediate outbreak of chaos, as the assembled crowd reacted to the gunshots and panicked cries echoed in the background. The National Guard, already present at the event, moved swiftly to subdue the attacker.
Condemning the killing as a “cowardly act,” Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado called on the Attorney General’s Office of the State of Guerrero to launch a comprehensive investigation, ensuring that the culprits face justice. The state prosecutor’s office confirmed that the supposed attacker was killed on-site, and the inquiry is currently underway.
The slaying of Cabrera is not an isolated incident but rather part of a wider trend of violence against political candidates in Mexico. The current election cycle in 2024 has seen an unparalleled level of violence, with no fewer than 36 candidates having been killed, marking it as the bloodiest election in the nation’s history.
Only a day before Cabrera’s murder, mayoral candidate Ricardo Arizmendi from the central state of Morelos was assassinated, and another candidate, Gilberto Palomar, was injured by gunfire in the state of Jalisco. These incidents highlight the severe security threats that candidates across Mexico are facing.
The increase in violence against political figures is frequently linked to the influence of drug cartels and organized crime groups vying for control over local governments. Since the Mexican government started deploying the military to fight drug trafficking in 2006, over 450,000 people have been killed, and tens of thousands are still missing. This ongoing conflict presents a significant challenge for the next Mexican president, Claudia Sheinbaum.
Sheinbaum has committed to persist with the existing administration’s “hugs not bullets” approach, which focuses on social programs to address the root causes of violence. Her primary rival, Xóchitl Gálvez, supported a more severe approach to cartel-related violence.
Newly-elected President Sheinbaum offered her condolences to Cabrera’s family and supporters, stating, “We must ensure that our electoral process is safe and that our democracy is protected.” Gálvez also denounced the attack, describing Cabrera as “a generous and upstanding man” and demanded increased protection for political candidates.
The Mexican government had pledged to deploy 27,000 soldiers and National Guard members to enhance security on Election Day, Sunday, June 2.
Political analyst Alejandro Moreno pointed out, “The violence we are witnessing is a direct threat to Mexico’s democratic institutions. The government must take decisive action to protect candidates and ensure the integrity of the elections.”
The U.S. State Department has also voiced concern over the escalating violence in Mexico, urging the Mexican government to take all necessary precautions to safeguard its citizens and strengthen its democratic processes.
