Mayor shot dead inside town hall in Central Mexico

Valentín Lavín Romero, the mayor of Temoac in the central Mexican state of Morelos, was shot dead on Wednesday inside the municipal government headquarters. The politician, affiliated with the Green Party, an ally of the ruling Morena party, was targeted in broad daylight when armed hitmen entered the town hall before escaping on a motorcycle.

The fatal attack came six months after Lavín Romero survived a previous attempt on his life in late January, when gunmen opened fire on his vehicle at a highway petrol station.

His assassination marks the 14th murder of a mayor in Mexico since President Claudia Sheinbaum took office in October 2024, highlighting the persistent vulnerability of municipal officials in regions contested by organised crime networks.

Prior to his death, Lavín Romero faced intense local scrutiny and threats. In May, a criminal group left a warning banner in the town center accusing him of protecting rival syndicates.

He was also under pressure from community activists who demanded investigations into his alleged links to the homicides of two local campaigners.

The state prosecutor’s office confirmed that initial forensic investigations are underway at the crime scene, though no suspects or official motives have yet been formally identified.

The killing coincides with broader federal anti-corruption drives under Operation Swarm, which targets collusion between municipal administration members and regional cartels across multiple states.