Two top aides to Mexico City’s Mayor, murdered

in suspected cartel hit

On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, two senior aides to Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada were fatally shot in an early morning ambush in the Moderna neighborhood.

This marked a significant escalation in political violence in the capital.

Ximena Guzmán, the mayor’s personal secretary, and José Muñoz, her political adviser, were targeted while traveling in Guzmán’s Audi.

Surveillance footage shows a gunman in a white T-shirt and motorcycle helmet opening fire, with Guzmán shot inside the vehicle and Muñoz killed as he attempted to flee.

The assailant then escaped on a motorcycle.

The attack has sent shockwaves through Mexico City.

Mexico city, supposedly a metropolis that, despite its challenges, has historically been considered relatively secure compared to other parts of the country.

While political killings are uncommon in the capital, the incident underscores the growing reach and boldness of organized crime groups.

Security experts suggest that the targeted nature of the assault points to a contract killing, possibly orchestrated by criminal factions seeking to exert pressure on Brugada’s administration.

In response to the killings, Mayor Brugada condemned the attack.

She vowed to continue her administration’s “relentless fight against insecurity” and ensuring that there would be no impunity.

Brugada pledged a thorough investigation into the incident.

President Claudia Sheinbaum, a political ally of Brugada and former mayor of Mexico City, expressed her condolences and affirmed that her government would ensure justice was served.

Sheinbaum also offered support to Brugada and her team during this challenging time.

The killings have raised serious concerns about the safety of public officials in Mexico City.

Security analyst David Saucedo criticized the lack of protection for high-profile aides like Guzmán, suggesting that the attack could be a strategic move by organized crime groups to destabilize the local government.

The incident mirrors previous high-profile attacks.

Such attacks as the 2020 assassination attempt on then-Police Chief Omar García Harfuch, attributed to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

In that case, García Harfuch survived the ambush, but two of his bodyguards and a bystander were killed.

The attack also highlights the broader issue of rising violence in Mexico.

According to the organization Mexico Evalúa, homicides in the country increased by 153.3% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

The capital, once considered a relative safe haven, has not been immune to this surge in violence.

Recent events, including assassination attempts and mass killings, have contributed to a growing sense of insecurity among residents.

In the wake of the killings, authorities have launched an extensive investigation into the incident.

They are analyzing security camera footage from the area and have recovered a motorcycle and a van that may be linked to the perpetrators.

The identity of the assailant remains unknown, and no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The investigation is ongoing, and officials have pledged to bring those responsible to justice.

This tragic event underscores the challenges faced by public officials in Mexico.

This is particularly in urban areas where organized crime groups vie for control and influence.

Analysts say the targeted killings of Guzmán and Muñoz serve as a stark reminder of the persistent threats to public safety.

It also brings to the fore, the importance of robust security measures for those in positions of power.

As the investigation unfolds, the people of Mexico City and the broader nation await answers.

They also hope for accountability in the face of this brazen act of violence.

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