Gunman Targets and Kills Top Aides of Mexico City Mayor in Brazen Attack

The attack raises concerns over political security in the capital, where the risk of targeted killings remains an alarming issue.

In a harrowing incident on Tuesday morning, two key advisors to Mexico City’s Mayor Clara Brugada were shot dead by a gunman in a calculated roadside attack. Mayor Brugada’s private secretary, Ximena Guzmán, and her advisor, José Muñoz, were both targeted as they prepared for their commute to work. According to witnesses, Guzmán was approached first while stopped in her vehicle on a bustling avenue, before the assailant aimed his weapon at Muñoz as he attempted to enter her car.

Eyewitness accounts suggest that the assailant, who is thought to have escaped on a motorcycle with at least one accomplice, opened fire with clear intent. The motive for the attack remains unclear at this time; however, it is part of a disturbing trend of violence against politicians in Mexico. The mayor expressed her grief at a subsequent news conference, advocating for justice and expressing deep sorrow over the loss of her colleagues with whom she shared a strong professional bond.

President Claudia Sheinbaum, informed of the attack by security minister Omar García Harfuch during her morning briefing, condemned the shooting as "deplorable," pledging full support to Brugada. Authorities promptly took action, recovering vehicles they believe were used during the attack along with forensic investigations underway at the scene.

CCTV footage obtained from a nearby building captured the shooter—armed and purposeful—approaching Guzmán’s vehicle, firing multiple rounds and subsequently targeting Muñoz before escaping. This high-profile incident draws attention to ongoing security concerns despite the rarity of such targeted violence against politicians in Mexico City compared to the rest of the country. Historical precedence shows that violence against officials is prevalent, particularly in smaller towns, making this attack a significant marker of changing dynamics within the capital.

While investigators have yet to pinpoint the assailants, experts note the shooter's methodical approach suggests he may be a hired hitman, indicating a new level of organized violence affecting even high-ranking public servants. As security measures deepen and investigations unfold, the aftershocks of this tragic event will likely resonate throughout the political landscape of Mexico City and beyond.