Gunmen Attack Bar in Villahermosa, Mexico, Leaving 5 Dead and 7 Injured

Valeria Márquez, a 23-year-old Mexican beauty influencer, was fatally shot during a TikTok live stream on May 14, in what authorities are investigating as a case of femicide, according to the Jalisco state prosecutor. The incident occurred at Márquez's beauty salon in Zapopan, where she was seen moments before her death expressing concern about an unnamed person delivering an "expensive gift." The disturbing live stream captured Márquez sitting with a stuffed toy, saying, “They’re coming,” before she muted the audio just prior to the shooting. The prosecutor's statement did not name any suspects in the case. Márquez, who boasted nearly 200,000 combined followers on social media, had previously expressed unease regarding unexpected visitors. As Mexico grapples with alarming rates of gender-based violence, the killing highlights the ongoing crisis of femicide in the country. Data from the United Nations indicates that Mexico has one of the highest rates of femicide in Latin America, with 1.3 such deaths per 100,000 women reported in 2023.

Yesenia Lara Gutiérrez, a mayoral candidate in Veracruz, Mexico, was killed on Sunday night when gunfire erupted during her campaign march. Gutiérrez was shot alongside three others in Texistepec, where she had been engaging with supporters during a live-streamed event on Facebook. The sound of approximately 20 gunshots can be heard in the video, which remains accessible on her page, illustrating the abrupt shift from celebration to chaos. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the attack during a press briefing, stating that authorities have yet to ascertain the motive behind the violence but are coordinating efforts with state officials. “We’re coordinating... and with all the support needed during this electoral period,” she emphasized, referring to the upcoming elections in Veracruz and Durango. This incident is part of a disturbing trend, as political violence against candidates has surged in Mexico. Data Cívica reported 661 such attacks last year, underscoring the dangerous environment in which many politicians operate. Veracruz Governor Rocío Nahle expressed her commitment to pursuing justice, stating on X, “No position or office is worth a person’s life.”

In recent days, authorities have uncovered at least 17 clandestine cemeteries across Sinaloa, Baja California Sur, and Colima, revealing numerous human remains, according to officials. This discovery was prompted by anonymous tips leading search groups to sites like Mezquitillo, where initially one body was expected, but nine were discovered. María Isabel Cruz of Sabuesos Guerreras A.C. cited the difficulty of safely investigating these areas, highlighting widespread violence linked to drug cartel activities. In Colima, six graves were found filled with dismembered bodies, and the local Attorney General’s Office has stated that DNA testing will be required to ascertain the total count. Similar discoveries have been made in La Paz, where recent searches yielded 44 skeletons in several marked graves. Search parties, often composed of family members of missing persons, have increased efforts as government assistance has become more regular in recent months. This surge in uncovering grim sites underscores a persistent national crisis of disappearances and violence in Mexico, following the chilling pattern established by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel in the Teuchitlán case.