Chilpancingo Mayor Alejandro Arcos. Photo: Gobierno Municipal de Chilpancingo

By KELIN DILLON

On Sunday, Oct. 6, Chilpancingo Mayor Alejandro Arcos was murdered just five days after his swearing-in as the municipal leader of the Guerrero capital.

According to reports from local news outlets, Arcos was allegedly decapitated during the homicide – a fact the Guerrero authorities have yet to confirm publicly.

Before his death, Arcos was recorded providing and distributing disaster relief to Guerrero citizens impacted by Hurricane John.

“All of Guerrero society mourn his loss and the incident fills us with indignation,” Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado said in a social media statement.

Arcos’ killing comes just days after the murder of Chilpancingo’s Secretary of Government, Francisco Tapi, and soon after six other Guerrero officials were killed in the months leading up to Mexico’s June elections.

“They had been in office less than a week,” said Alejandro Morena, president of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) Arcos belonged to. “They were young and honest public servants seeking progress for their community.”

Guerrero is one of the most violent areas in Mexico, with more than 1,890 murders registered in the state during 2023 alone – many of which have been tied to organized crime activity.