The world of Mexican politics was rocked this week after a popular mayoral candidate was assassinated in front of hundreds of his supporters. 

According to the Daily Caller, Alfredo Cabrera, a Mexican mayoral candidate, was gunned down in front of his supporters on Wednesday. The candidate was shot point blank in the back of his skull.

The moment clearly shocked his supporters, as it occurred when Cabrera stopped for a meet-and-greet with hundreds of his supporters and shook hands with them.

The report noted that as he began shaking hands, the gunman appeared out of nowhere from behind and assassinated him in cold blood.

What's going on?

The political assassination took place in Coyuca de Benitez in the southern state of Guerrero, which happened to be the final stop of his campaign that day.

Onlookers screamed in horror in the moments after he was shot. Authorities pronounced him dead at the scene.

Gov. Evelyn Salgado released a statement on her X account condemning the assassination.

"I strongly condemn the unfortunate events in which the candidate for the municipal presidency of Coyuca de Benítez for the PRI, PAN and PRD coalition, Alfredo Cabrera Barrientos, lost his life," Salgado said.

She added, "To clarify this cowardly crime and guarantee no impunity, I have asked the Attorney General’s Office of the State of Guerrero to carry out the pertinent investigations to apply the full weight of the law to him or those responsible for this crime."

Mexican Mayoral candidate Alfredo Cabrera assassinated at point-blank range at campaign rally https://t.co/20sHjk8zrV pic.twitter.com/HYjx6JELyf

— New York Post (@nypost) May 30, 2024

Social media reacts

The assassination was the latest in a string of violent political attacks leading up to upcoming elections, according to multiple news outlets. Social media users reacted to the violence.

The outlet noted:

Cabrera’s assassination marks the 36th murder of a candidate in this 2024 election cycle in Mexico alone, The New York Post reported. Albino Gómez, another left-leaning mayoral candidate, was attacked by gunmen at his home and kidnapped Sunday, the BBC reported. Gómez was found to be alive after the traumatic incident. Mexico’s criminal cartels are seen as the hand behind the murders of many political candidates.

"Mexico has turned into a country in complete control by criminals," one X user wrote.

Another X user wrote, "These are the people that come across our border illegally."