High-Profile Targeted Killings Raise Concerns in Jalisco

The state of Jalisco in Mexico has had a number of high-profile killings recently. In the past two months, a Mexican social media influencer was shot and killed during a livestream on TikTok, a local politician was killed at a seafood restaurant, a mother searching for missing relatives was murdered along with her son, and the state’s municipal police chief was killed by a suspected cartel member.

In the latest incident, three security and intelligence instructors were shot in an apparent cartel ambush at a restaurant in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, on 16 May. Two of the men were killed. The victims had just completed a security and intelligence training course for police from Jalisco state, CBS News reported. It is unclear if the attack was targeted and, if so, what the motive was—the victims’ security training work, their prior government affiliations, or some other factor. The investigation is still underway.

Political figures are often at high risk in Mexico. About 500 violent incidents targeting political figures occurred between January and November 2024, “driven by power brokers and criminal groups seeking to coerce or co-opt politicians and ensure outcomes favorable to their interests,” according to ACLED (Armed Conflict Location and Event Data), a non-profit organization focused on collecting data about violent conflict worldwide. But civilians are frequently in harm’s way in Mexico, especially due to cartel-based infighting and attacks.

“Mexico’s security landscape is characterized by violent disputes between criminal groups fighting for control over illicit economies. The ensuing political violence, and the burden this places on the civilian population, has resulted in Mexico continually ranking amongst the world’s most extreme conflicts according to the ACLED Conflict Index,” ACLED explained. Released in December 2024, the latest edition of the Index ranks Mexico as the fourth most dangerous country worldwide—after Palestine, Myanmar, and Syria—and the second most dangerous to civilians.

In addition, the 2024 presidential election in Mexico took place amid intensifying gang disputes and clashes, which were 18 percent more lethal compared to 2023. Although national homicide rates have dropped marginally in recent years, Mexico still reports more than 30,000 crime-related deaths each year, according to the Council on Foreign Relations’ Global Conflict Tracker. Security analysts estimate that around two-thirds of homicides in Mexico are committed by organized crime, Human Rights Watch reported.

“While criminal groups continue to vie for control over drug trafficking, they have turned to other illicit activities to secure their financial sustainability—including extortion, human smuggling, and fuel theft—leading to heightened competition over illicit markets,” ACLED reported.

ASIS posted an in memoriam message about one of the 16 May attack victims, ASIS Mexico West Chapter 247 Chair César Guzmán, on its blog. In part, it reads: “César’s legacy is one of integrity, courage, and service. He will be remembered not only for his professional achievements, but also for the inspiration he provided to colleagues, students, and the community he served.”