Mayor Lilia Gema García Soto of San Mateo Piñas, Oaxaca was brutally slain within her workplace.
In a tragic turn of events, the mayor of San Mateo Piñas in the southern state of Oaxaca, Lilia Gema García Soto, was shot dead on Sunday, June 15th. The attack occurred at the city hall where she was meeting with a local official, Eli García Ramírez.
This latest deadly attack on an elected official in Mexico underscores the continued influence of organized crime and the risks facing government officials who are combating cartel activities. The Oaxaca government has launched an operation to arrest those responsible for the attack.
The killing of García Soto is not an isolated incident. Mexico has one of the world's highest murder rates, primarily attributed to violence driven by drug cartels. In recent years, the country has seen a pattern of deadly attacks on elected officials.
Just last month, two aides of Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada, Ximena Guzmán and José Muñoz, were killed in a targeted attack. Thirteen suspects were arrested in connection with that case, highlighting the ongoing risks for officials even in the capital.
The violence against public officials in Mexico City's capital follows García Soto's killing in San Mateo Piñas. This year, two mayors have been killed in the state of Oaxaca, including Mario Hernández García, the mayor of Santiago Amoltepec, who was killed in May.
The Tamaulipas killing is particularly significant because it targeted a top federal prosecutor working near the U.S. border. Ernesto Vásquez Reyna, the Attorney General's Office Tamaulipas state delegate, was gunned down in broad daylight on August 5th, 2025, in Reynosa. Investigators believe the killing was a retaliation by organized crime linked to recent large fuel seizures affecting criminal groups in the area.
The attack involved gunmen and two additional vehicles; a smoldering SUV was found at the scene. Authorities suspect the Gulf cartel’s "Metros" faction, which controls Reynosa and operates stolen gasoline sales, was behind the killing.
Despite these challenges, the Mexican government continues to take action. The governor of Oaxaca, Salomón Jara Cruz, has condemned the killing of García Soto and promised to collaborate with the State Attorney General's Office to clarify the facts and deliver justice.
It is crucial that these attacks on elected officials are not tolerated and that those responsible are brought to justice. The safety and security of government officials are paramount for maintaining a stable and functional democracy.
[1] "Mexican prosecutor killed in border city of Reynosa." Associated Press, 6 Aug. 2025. [2] "Two aides of Mexico City mayor killed in targeted attack." Reuters, 24 May 2025. [3] "Mexico: Gulf cartel suspects behind killing of top prosecutor in Tamaulipas." Mexico Daily News, 6 Aug. 2025. [4] "Mexico's high murder rate: Facts and figures." BBC News, 15 June 2023. [5] "Thirteen suspects arrested in connection with Mexico City mayor's aides' murder." El Universal, 1 June 2025.
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