Bertha Gaytán, a candidate for mayor of a violence-stricken city in Mexico, was shot to death on a street near Celaya in Guanajuato by unknown assailants as she began campaigning, Associated Press reports.
Gaytán was associated with the Morena party, and the incident was captured on social media, where people were chanting “Morena!” before shots were fired, causing chaos. This marks the latest killing in the lead-up to Mexico’s June 2 elections, with at least 14 candidates murdered since the start of 2024.
Guanajuato has been plagued by high homicide rates, particularly in Celaya, and is known for violent turf battles between drug cartels and gangs. The region has witnessed numerous killings of police officers and politicians, with recent incidents including the killing of the mayor of Churumuco and two mayoral candidates in Michoacan.
