CNN
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The Mayor of Mexico City’s private secretary and advisor was shot on Tuesday in an attack in the Mexican capital.
Mexico City Major Clara Bulgada said Ximena Guzmán and José Muñoz had died “in direct attacks” in modern-day neighborhoods.
Bulgada, as mayor of Mexico City, holds the country’s second-strongest political office, after President Claudia Sheinbaum. Brugada and Sheinbaum are allies of the Morena Party.
The Mexico City Attorney General’s Office said the attack occurred when the vehicle was intercepted on the way to work.
Authorities are analyzing security camera videos circulating on social media that allegedly captured the moment Guzman and Munoz were filmed.
It shows a man approaching a parked car and entering, and another man in a helmet stood on the road and fired in his car. The attacker then escapes the scene.
CNN contacted the Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Security and Civil Protection to see if the video would respond to the attack that took place on Tuesday. They replied that it was under investigation.
The attack took place between Calzada de Trapan and Napoleon Street.
Authorities said Wednesday that they identified at least four people they allegedly took part in the attack.
“Given the dynamics of the event, it is concluded that it was a direct, highly planned attack and that anyone who carried it had previous experience,” prosecutor Bertha Alcalde Luján said at a press conference Wednesday.
Alkarde said the motives for the attack are still under investigation and nothing is ruled out.
According to a joint bulletin from the Civil Security Secretariat and the Attorney General, authorities seized motorcycles and vehicles in the Izutacalco district near the scene, which could possibly be linked to the incident.
Bulgada said her government was “deeply saddened” by the loss of her colleagues, describing Guzman as a wonderful and kind woman, and Munoz said she was one of the smartest people she’d ever met.
Sinbaum expressed his sadness to the two officials’ loved ones at a press conference Tuesday morning and offered her support for the investigation.
“We will reach the bottom of this situation and ensure that justice is provided,” Sinbaum said.
The president said that both Guzman and Munoz “were worked in our movement (Morena Party) for a long time. We know them.”
In Mexico, attacks on politicians are common.
Last year, the country saw record numbers of victims from political violence, and human rights group Datavika reported 661 attacks on people and facilities. Many of the victims either held or were running at the local government level position.
In May 2024, a mayoral candidate was killed at a campaign stop in southern Guerrero.
A few days later, Mayor Kotilla of Michoacan was shot dead while walking home from the gym with his bodyguard.
In October, Mayor of Guerrero’s capital, Chilpanche, was killed less than a week after taking office.
Earlier this month, the mayoral candidate for Veracruz was shot along with three others during a live broadcast of the campaign rally.
Fix: Previous versions of this story incorrectly reported how many shooters were involved. Authorities say there was one gunman.
