Police Arrest 13 Linked to Killings of Mexico City Mayor’s Staffers

Mexico City  Mayor Clara Brugada

Mexico City (AP) — Authorities in Mexico City have arrested 13 suspects linked to the brazen daylight killings of two staff members working for Mayor Clara Brugada, marking a major breakthrough in a case that shocked the capital earlier this year.

"Mexico City arrests 13 in connection with the daylight murders of Mayor Clara Brugada’s secretary and adviser. Authorities probe motive."

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Staff Members Gunned Down in May

On May 20, Brugada’s personal secretary, Ximena Guzmán, and adviser José Muñoz were ambushed and fatally shot inside Guzmán’s car while driving through a busy city street. Guzmán had just picked up Muñoz from a subway station, a routine she followed regularly.

Investigators say the killings were the result of a meticulously planned hit, involving multiple vehicles and weeks of surveillance.

The Arrests and Police Raids

Authorities carried out 11 raids early Wednesday, leading to the arrests of 13 suspects. Of those, three were directly involved in the shootings, while the others allegedly handled logistics such as surveillance and getaway vehicles.

Mexico City’s Chief Prosecutor Bertha María Alcalde Luján revealed that at least five vehicles, including the motorcycle used by the gunman, were part of the operation. Two of those cars had been seen monitoring the victims in the days leading up to the attack.

Alcalde Luján added that the assassination was initially planned for May 14 but was called off after Guzmán did not pick up Muñoz that day.

Escape Route Traced

Federal security chief Omar García Harfuch said the gunmen and their accomplices first fled to a neighborhood in Iztacalco, near Mexico City’s international airport. There, they switched vehicles before escaping into Mexico State.

Police Chief Pablo Vázquez Camacho confirmed there are multiple lines of investigation, but authorities have not disclosed a possible motive, saying the probe remains ongoing.

Killings of Mexico City Mayor’s Staff

Mayor Brugada Reacts

“This represents the first major breakthrough in a complex and painful investigation,” Mayor Clara Brugada said Wednesday, vowing to continue pushing for justice.

The killings of Guzmán and Muñoz have intensified security concerns in Mexico’s capital, as residents and officials await further answers about who ordered the hit and why.