Motorcycle gunmen kill Mexico City mayor’s private secretary and adviser

Two senior members of Mexico City’s government were killed Tuesday morning in a targeted shooting that has sent shockwaves through the capital.

Gunmen on a motorcycle ambushed the officials as they were headed to work. The attack occurred in the Moderna neighborhood, between Calzada de Tlalpan and Napoleón Street. Both victims were close advisers to Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada.

The victims, Ximena Guzmán and José Muñoz, served as Brugada’s private secretary and adviser, respectively. According to authorities, their vehicle was intercepted and shot multiple times.

A forensic team later examined the bullet-ridden car, which had several holes in the windshield.

Mayor Brugada confirmed the deaths during a press conference Tuesday afternoon. “This was a direct attack,” she said. “Our government is deeply saddened. Ximena was a wonderful and kind woman. José was one of the smartest people I’ve ever met.”

Brugada is one of the most powerful political figures in the country, second only to President Claudia Sheinbaum. Both women are longtime allies within the ruling Morena party.

Authorities said an investigation is underway. Mexico City’s Attorney General’s Office is reviewing surveillance footage in an effort to identify the gunmen and uncover the motive.

President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed the killings in her own Tuesday morning press conference. “We will get to the bottom of this situation and ensure justice is served,” she said.

Sheinbaum also shared her condolences. “Both Ximena and José had worked in our movement for a long time. We have known them. We are deeply hurt by this loss.”

The attack adds to a troubling trend of political violence in Mexico. According to Data Cívica, a human rights group, the country recorded 661 attacks on political figures and institutions last year—its highest number on record.

Many of those attacks targeted people running for or holding local office.

In May 2024, a mayoral candidate was shot and killed at a campaign stop in Guerrero. The killing was caught on video. Just days later, the mayor of Cotija in Michoacán state was fatally shot while walking home from the gym.

October saw the murder of Chilpancingo’s mayor—just days after taking office. And earlier this month, gunmen opened fire on a campaign rally in Veracruz, killing a mayoral candidate and three others during a livestreamed event.

“Violence is just everywhere,” said a CNN correspondent recently in a special report on cartel-driven conflict in Mexico.

While officials have not publicly linked Tuesday’s killings to organized crime, the method and timing have raised concerns.

Experts say Mexico’s ongoing cartel violence often intersects with politics. In many cases, cartels target officials who resist corruption or interfere with their interests.

Guillermo Trejo, a political violence expert at the University of Notre Dame, told The Guardian earlier this year: “Political candidates and officials who do not cooperate with organized crime are more likely to be attacked.”

As the investigation continues, both the local and federal government say they are committed to solving the case.

“We will not let this go unanswered,” Brugada said. “We owe that to their families—and to the people of this city.”

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