A Mexican congressman who was a member of the ruling coalition was killed on Monday in the coastal state of Veracruz, officials said, marking another politician still at the mercy of violence in the country.
“Benito Aguas Atlahua has died as a result of injuries caused by a gun attack,” said the the state prosecutor's office said in a statement.
The body of a man identified as Agustin Linares was also found at the scene of the attack in the town of Zongolica, the statement said. Authorities did not say how Linares, who was an engineer, died.
Authorities have not released further details about the circumstances or the number of attackers.
Aguas Atlahua was taken to the hospital in serious condition after the shooting, according to an earlier report.
The legislator was a member of the Green Ecologist Party of Mexico (PVEM), part of the governing coalition that controls the conference, together with the Labor Party and President Morena Claudia Sheinbaum.
His PVEM party condemned the attack in a report on social media.
“We urge the authorities to take appropriate measures to ensure that this heinous act does not go unpunished. Security and respect must be fundamental pillars of Mexican politics,” he said.
A tribute posted on Aguas Atlahua's Facebook page said he was “renowned for his hard work and tireless commitment to improving the lives of citizens. “
“His legacy of service and love for his country will remain in the hearts of all who knew and worked with him,” the statement said.
Criminal gangs have fought over territory in the state of Veracruz because of its location on a transit route for drugs and undocumented migrants heading to the United States.
Mexico has suffered more than 450,000 killings since 2006, when the government called in the army to fight the cartels.
Politicians, especially at the local level, often suffered from bleeding linked to corruption and multi-million dollar drug trafficking.
In October, there was a mayor murdered and arrested in the southern state of Guerrero. The next month, there was a deputy prosecutor and a local police officer arrest related to a gruesome killing.
In June, a to kill the warden in southern Mexico, less than a week after another politician was murdered in the same region under cartel violence. The murder of Acacio Flores came days after the killed Salvador Villalba Floresanother mayor from the state of Guerrero elected in the June 2 polls.
Also in June, local counselor she was shot down as she was leaving her home in Guerrero. Her murder came days after the mayor of a town in western Mexico and her bodyguard were killed outside the gymjust hours after Sheinbaum won the presidency.
At least 24 politicians were murdered in a very violent election process leading up to the June election which the main ruling party won by a landslide, according to official figures.
