López Obrador regrets the murder of the son of a mayor in Guanajuato

Officials defend Mexico's security strategy 6:00

(CNN Spanish) ––

The president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, lamented this Thursday the murder of the son of the mayor of the municipality of Celaya, in the state of Guanajuato, which occurred on Wednesday afternoon at the hands of an armed command in the neighboring city of Guadalajara.

According to federal and state authorities, Guillermo Mendoza, son of Javier Mendoza Márquez, was the victim of an attack perpetrated by armed individuals aboard a motorcycle who allegedly shot the man several times when he was inside a van, in the parking lot of a branch of a pharmaceutical chain.

This Thursday, López Obrador referred to the crime as "a very unfortunate event" and expressed his condolences to Mendoza Márquez.

"We send him, his family, his friends, a very strong hug," said the president during his usual morning conference.

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The undersecretary of Public Security, Ricardo Mejía, affirmed that since the crime was known, contact was made with the governor of Guanajuato, Diego Sinhué Rodríguez.

In addition, he reported that there are already "significant advances" in the investigation.

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“We hope that in a short time those who perpetrated this reprehensible homicide can be found,” Mejía added during the presidential conference.

The governor of Guanajuato also condemned the events through a message on his social networks this Wednesday.

"I repudiate this cowardly and terrible criminal act and I require a prompt investigation from the State Attorney General's Office to find those responsible for the crime. I reiterate my commitment to the public to continue fighting for peace in Celaya and throughout the State in coordination always with the federal, state and municipal governments," Rodríguez published.

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Meanwhile, the State Prosecutor's Office reported through its Twitter account that "it is already in charge of the investigation to clarify the facts and bring the criminals to justice."

The murder of the son of the mayor of Celaya occurs a week after Guanajuato experienced a violent day by members of organized crime with burning of vehicles and convenience stores in several municipalities to arrest criminal leaders of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel ( CJNG), as reported by the Mexican government.

Last Tuesday, the mayor of Celaya had signed an agreement to strengthen the security of the city and to receive equipment and professional services for 19 million Mexican pesos.

"I recognize the commitment of our governor for the benefit of the safety of the families of Celaya and of our State," Mendoza Márquez wrote on his Twitter account.

For its part, the United States Embassy in Mexico issued on Thursday, August 10, an alert to its citizens to avoid transiting or visiting Guanajuato, after the acts of violence caused by organized crime.

Through a statement, the embassy warned, especially the employees of the government of that country, about the dangers that are run when traveling through the municipalities of Celaya, Irapuato and Salamanca.

MayorAndrés Manuel López ObradorMurderCelaya