By Natalia Rueda 
Coyuca de Benítez, GUERRERO — As Mexico prepares for its highly anticipated elections on June 2, the country is once again rocked by political violence as another candidate has been gruesomely murdered. José Alfredo Cabrera Barrientos, a former candidate for the municipality of Coyuca de Benítez, was shot dead this Wednesday May 29 during his campaign closing event.
Cabrera Barrientos, a candidate representing the PRI, PAN, and PRD was shot several times in the head in front of a crowd. The scene, captured on video, shows the moment when a yet-unidentified assailant approached Cabrera Barrientos from behind and shot him multiple times. Two other people also lost their lives in the incident.
Sadly, this kind of violence is not uncommon in Mexico. Political violence has plagued the country for decades, and the murder of José Alfredo Cabrera is just the latest example. In the run-up to the June 2 elections, at least 34 candidates or applicants have been murdered.
Political violence in Mexico has deep roots, fueled by organized crime, corruption, and systemic impunity that allows perpetrators to act without fear of repercussions. The assassination of Cabrera Barrientos is part of a long-standing trend where candidates, activists, and officials become targets for criminal organizations looking to exert influence and control over political entities.