Two Senior Aides to Mexico City Mayor Assassinated in Broad Daylight Attack

Two Senior Aides to Mexico City Mayor Assassinated in Broad Daylight Attack

By Aaron Joyce | L.T.T Media Newswire | 21 May 2025

In a shocking escalation of violence in Mexico's capital, two senior aides to Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada were assassinated in a brazen daylight attack on Tuesday morning. The victims, Ximena Guzmán, the mayor's personal secretary, and José Muñoz, a senior adviser, were ambushed by gunmen on a motorcycle in the city's central Moderna neighborhood.

Details of the Attack

The assault occurred around 7 a.m. as Guzmán and Muñoz were traveling together in an Audi vehicle. According to initial reports, Muñoz was approached by two gunmen on a motorcycle who shot and killed him in the street. The attackers then fired at least four shots at Guzmán inside the vehicle, killing her.

Surveillance footage from the area captured the assailants fleeing the scene on the motorcycle. Authorities are analyzing the video to identify the perpetrators.

Official Reactions

Mayor Clara Brugada, visibly shaken, addressed the media shortly after the incident. "I feel deeply saddened by the loss of Ximena and Pepe, with whom I shared many years of hopes and struggles to transform Mexico City," she said. Brugada vowed that her administration would continue its relentless fight against insecurity and that those responsible for the attack would be brought to justice.

President Claudia Sheinbaum, a former mayor of Mexico City and a close ally of Brugada, condemned the killings during her morning press conference. "It is a deplorable incident, and we are going to give all the support that the mayor may need," Sheinbaum stated. She emphasized that there would be no impunity for those responsible.

Investigation and Security Measures

The city's Citizen Security Ministry and the Attorney General’s Office have launched an extensive investigation to determine the motive for the attack and to identify those responsible. Authorities are collaborating with federal agencies, including the National Intelligence Center and the Secretariats of Defense and Navy.

Security analyst David Saucedo suggested that the killings bore signs of an organized crime operation aimed at pressuring Brugada’s administration. He questioned the lack of security for a key aide like Guzmán, highlighting the need for increased protection for public officials.

Context of Political Violence

While Mexico City has generally been considered safer than other parts of the country, this attack underscores the growing reach of organized crime into the capital. Political violence has become common in many parts of Mexico, where scores of local political candidates have been assassinated in killings usually linked to drug cartels seeking to exert influence.

The assassinations of Guzmán and Muñoz mark one of the most severe attacks on public officials in recent years and have sent shockwaves through the political community. Authorities have pledged to bring the perpetrators to justice and to implement measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

As the investigation continues, the city remains on high alert, with increased security measures in place to protect public officials and restore public confidence in the safety of the capital.