Mexican Mayor Gets 'Inauguration Special': Decapitation and Pickup Truck Display

Yet another day in paradise—or should I say, Mexico—where the mayor of Chilpancingo, Alexander Arcos, got a swift introduction to his new job: a brutal murder just six days into his term. Photos of his severed head sitting pretty on a pickup truck circulated on WhatsApp, because who needs Instagram filters when you can have real-life gore?

Arcos was elected mayor of Chilpancingo, a city about 170 miles south of Mexico City, which probably seemed like a great idea before the whole decapitation thing. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum—because, of course, it's a woman's fault—promised investigations by the secretaries of security, defense, and the Marines. She said, “We are going to fortify the intelligence investigative capabilities of the Mexican government.” Sure, Claudia, because that worked so well last time.

In this charming town, which is the capital of the violence-ridden state of Guerrero, politicians and journalists drop like flies. Three days before Arcos' murder, the city's new government secretary, Francisco Tapia, was shot dead. Six political candidates in the state were killed before the June elections. It's like a real-life Game of Thrones, but without the dragons.

Evelyn Salgado Pineda, Guerrero's governor, vowed to bring the killers to justice on X, formerly Twitter, because what better place to talk about serious issues than a social media platform? "His loss has saddened all of Guerrero society and fills us with indignation," she wrote. Yeah, filling us with indignation and popcorn.

Arcos had promised a “renewal project” for peace at his inauguration. “Together we'll build a Chilpancingo of peace, a Chilpancingo that will be the home our children deserve,” he said. Well, at least the kids get a good story about how daddy didn't make it to the second week of his new job.

Citizens, friends, and family gathered to shed tears and pretend they cared as Arcos' coffin was carried through the city streets during a funeral ceremony on Monday, the Chilpancingo Sun reported. Because nothing says "we'll miss you" like a public spectacle of grief.

Contributing: Diana Garcia for the Arizona Republic; Reuters