The decapitated head of Mexico's new mayor was found in his car

Just six days into his term, the decapitated head of a mayor in Mexico was found on his car. This was the second official assassinated in Guerrero's capital in less than a week.

The body of Alejandro Arcos, the 43-year-old mayor of the city of Chilpancingo, was found in his pickup truck on Sunday evening with his head lying on the roof of the vehicle.

His death was confirmed by the prosecutor's office. The Attorney General's Office said it was conducting an investigation.

“His loss grieves the entire Guerrero society and fills us with outrage,” Guerrero Gov. Evelyn Salgado said in a statement shared on social media.

On the day of his assassination, Arcos had visited the neighborhoods of Chilpancingo damaged by Hurricane John.

The city of around 280,000 residents is still reeling from the assassination of new government secretary Francisco Tapia, who was shot dead last week.

“They were young and honest officials who sought progress for their community,” wrote Sen. Alejandro Moreno on X.

Guerrero has become one of the deadliest states for local politicians and journalists. At least six candidates for public office were killed in Guerrero ahead of Mexico's June elections.

Chilpancingo has struggled with violent crime for years, largely due to frequent conflicts between two rival drug gangs, the Ardillos and the Tlacos.

The city's former mayor, Norma Otilia Hernández, was caught on video allegedly holding a meeting with gang leaders at a restaurant. She was subsequently expelled from her party, which gave Arcos the opportunity to run.

In July 2023, federal officials said the Ardillos gang had organized a demonstration in Chilpancingo that month to force the release of two of its leaders who had been arrested on drug and weapons possession charges.

The demonstration lasted two days as people began blocking all traffic on the highway between Mexico City and Acapulco, fighting security forces and even stealing an armored police truck that they used to break down the gates of the state's parliament building.

The protesters kidnapped 10 state police and National Guard members, as well as three state and federal officers. State authorities eventually secured the release of the hostages in return for a promise to invest in public works projects.

With post wires