Sinaloa records new homicide and first femicide of July amid ongoing violence

A 40‑year‑old construction worker identified as Julio César was shot dead on 3 July in Culiacán, Sinaloa, after being intercepted by armed men on Paseo de los Ganaderos. Police and forensic teams secured the scene, recovered large‑calibre shell casings, and transferred the body to the forensic medical service for autopsy.

The same day, state authorities confirmed the first femicide of July, a woman killed at a roasted‑chicken shop in Culiacán. The murder raises Sinaloa’s 2026 femicide total to 44, keeping the state at the top of the national rankings for gender‑based killings. Fifteen of those cases have occurred under interim governor Yeraldine Bonilla Valverde, who assumed office about two months ago amid a broader context of political turbulence and ongoing investigations involving former officials.

Sinaloa continues to grapple with high levels of violent crime, especially against women, despite institutional measures aimed at curbing gender‑based violence.