Mayor Valentín Lavín Romero assassinated in Temoac, Morelos
On 22 July 2026, two armed men entered the municipal palace in Temoac, Morelos, and opened fire on mayor Valentín Lavín Romero, killing him. The assault took place around 12:30 p.m.; the assailants fled on a motorcycle toward the community of Popotlán. Lavín Romero had survived a prior attack in January 2026 while traveling on the Mexico‑Oaxaca highway.
State and federal authorities launched a joint investigation, deploying the Mesa de Coordinación Estatal para la Construcción de Paz y Seguridad, which declared a permanent session and organized an operational sweep of Temoac and neighboring municipalities. The Fiscalía General del Estado de Morelos said it will “agotar todas las líneas de investigación” to identify those responsible, but no arrests have been reported. The killing adds to a wave of political violence that has seen 14 municipal presidents murdered during President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration, prompting concern over the safety of local officials nationwide.