Mexico is reeling from another political assassination, which took place on the evening of Sunday, May 11. The victim was Yessenia Lara Gutierrez, a candidate for the Morena party in Tehistepec, Veracruz.
The murder occurred during a campaign event that was being filmed on mobile devices. Yessenia was engaging with the public, taking part in a procession filled with flags, slogans, and celebratory honking when chaos erupted due to over 15 gunshots. The attack was captured on various videos now circulating on social media.
Yesenia Lara Gutiérrez, a Morena candidate in Texistepec, Veracruz, was killed during a campaign caravan.
Reports from local media indicate that Yessenia was killed instantly, along with three others. Two additional individuals were taken to a hospital with injuries.
This marks the second murder of a ruling party candidate within just days. On April 29, another candidate in the Coxquihui municipality was also assassinated.
The local prosecutor’s office has begun an investigation, and authorities are working to identify and apprehend those responsible. Concerns are escalating ahead of the 2025 federal elections amid a troubling trend of violence against political candidates.
In the previous year, Mexico experienced a tragic surge in political violence, with the human rights organization Data Cívica reporting 661 attacks on individuals and facilities, many involving candidates or officials running for municipal roles.
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