'War on Crime' Mexico: At Least 20 Dead in Broad Daylight Shooting at City Hall

18 Mayors Killed Since Current President Obrador's Inauguration
Tequileros Gang Member Claims Responsibility for Incident
State Assemblyman Also Shot Dead by Motorcycle Assailant on Same Day

Village residents are burying the victims of the recent shooting incident. Photo by AP Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Bang Je-il] In southern Mexico, dozens were killed when armed assailants, believed to be drug cartel members, opened fire in broad daylight.

On the 6th (local time), according to AP, AFP, and the British BBC, in San Miguel Totolapan, Mexico, 20 people, including Mayor Conrado Mendoza, were killed inside the city hall during the day. Among the victims were many police officers and city council staff.

Freddy Vasquez, a city official, stated, "Mayor Mendoza was shot and killed during a work meeting." He recalled, "Our local government is peaceful, so at first, it was hard to believe. Initially, we thought it was fireworks, but as we listened more closely, we realized it was gunfire."

The mountainous region in southern Mexico where this city is located, called 'Tierra Caliente,' is known for frequent conflicts due to power struggles between drug organizations. Locally, the Tequileros gang is being pointed to as the group behind this shooting incident.

Ricardo Mejia, Mexico's Deputy Security Minister, explained, "This attack occurred amid a dispute between the criminal groups 'Tequileros' and 'Familia Michoacana' operating in Guerrero state," adding, "The Tequileros gang has been involved in opium smuggling and distribution, kidnapping, extortion, and murder."

In fact, on social media (SNS) on the same day, videos were posted by individuals claiming to be members of the Tequileros gang, asserting responsibility for the incident. Authorities are currently verifying the authenticity of these videos.

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Security analyst David Sosa told AFP in an interview, "The murders may be due to a local government control dispute between Los Tequileros and La Familia Michoacana." He added, "Los Tequileros have been active in San Miguel Totolapan for several years, mainly conducting kidnappings for ransom."

President Andr?s Manuel L?pez Obrador also stated, "These groups have existed for a long time and did not appear during the current administration," adding, "We are working to address the causes of their reemergence."

Meanwhile, on the same day, Gabriela Marin, a state legislator in Cuernavaca city, Morelos state near Guerrero, was also killed. It is reported that when Marin stopped her vehicle in front of a pharmacy and got out, two assailants on motorcycles approached and opened fire.

According to statistics from a local consulting firm, AP reported that since the inauguration of current Mexican President Andr?s Manuel L?pez Obrador in 2018, 18 mayors and 8 state legislators have been killed.

President L?pez Obrador, who has campaigned on an anti-corruption platform, has raised his voice against the widespread drug crime and violence in the country. In 2019, he established the National Guard, composed of military and police forces, to address this issue.