Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum on Tuesday strongly condemned the daylight killings of two senior Mexico City officials, calling the attack “intolerable” and vowing that there would be no impunity.
“We will not allow violence to undermine our institutions,” she said, following the deaths of Mayor Clara Brugada’s personal secretary and a top adviser—an incident marking one of the most serious assaults on public officials in the capital in recent years.
Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. State Department on Tuesday night for comment.
Why it Matters
In 2020, Omar García Harfuch—then serving as Mexico City’s police chief and now the federal security minister—survived an assassination attempt in which he was shot and wounded. The attack, which claimed the lives of two of his bodyguards, was attributed by García Harfuch to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of Mexico’s most powerful drug trafficking organizations.
Homicides in Mexico City have risen slightly in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2024, underscoring persistent security challenges even in the country’s capital.
What to Know
Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada, who holds the country’s second most powerful political office after Sheinbaum, identified the victims as her secretary, Ximena Guzmán, and adviser, José Muñoz.
In a visibly emotional appearance before reporters, Brugada said she had worked closely with Guzmán and Muñoz for years. She pledged to continue her administration’s “relentless fight against insecurity,” even in the face of targeted violence.
The attack occurred around 7 a.m. Tuesday as the two officials sat inside an Audi on a major thoroughfare. Four bullet holes were clustered on the driver’s side of the windshield, and one of the victims was found lying on the pavement.
According to an official from the federal prosecutor’s office, early reports suggest that Guzmán was driving to work and had stopped on a busy downtown Mexico City thoroughfare to pick up her colleague. As Muñoz approached the car, two gunmen on a motorcycle targeted him, shooting and killing him in the street. The assailants then turned their weapons on Guzmán, firing at least four shots into the vehicle and fatally wounding her.
Security analyst David Saucedo told Reuters the attack bore the signs of a calculated organized crime operation, likely meant to pressure Brugada’s government. He expressed concern over the apparent lack of a security detail for Guzmán, given her close working relationship with the mayor.
Sheinbaum, who served as Mexico City’s mayor before becoming the country’s first female president last year, said she was unaware of any prior threats against Guzmán. Both Sheinbaum and Brugada are prominent members of the ruling Morena party.
What People Are Saying
Saucedo told Reuters: “It was a harsh message sent to Clara (Brugada), undoubtedly perpetrated by drug traffickers.”
Brugada told reporters: “I feel very sad for the loss of Ximena and Pepe (Jose), with whom for many years we shared dreams and struggles.”
What Happens Next
Authorities say the motive remains under investigation.
This article contains reporting by The Associated Press.
Update: 5/20/25, 7:34 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and remarks.
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