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2nd mayoral candidate killed in Mexico's Veracruz state ahead of June 1 elections

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2nd mayoral candidate killed in Mexico's Veracruz state ahead of June 1 elections
News

News

2nd mayoral candidate killed in Mexico's Veracruz state ahead of June 1 elections

2025-05-13 11:32 Last Updated At:12:01

TEXISTEPEC, Mexico (AP) — Gunmen killed a mayoral candidate from Mexico’s governing party in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz and four others who accompanied her, the second such local candidate killing in the state ahead of the June 1 election, authorities confirmed Monday.

There were reports later Monday that two federal agents were killed in another part of the state.

The attack on candidate Yesenia Lara Gutiérrez of the Morena party occurred Sunday when she was leading a caravan of supporters through Texistepec. Three more people were wounded.

Veracruz Gov. Rocío Nahle, also of the Morena party of President Claudia Sheinbaum, said Monday that Lara Gutiérrez’s daughter was among those killed.

Texistepec is a town of 20,000 southwest of the important petroleum industry port of Coatzacoalcos.

“No (elected) position is worth dying for,” Nahle said in a press conference Monday, where she promised justice.

“All of the state’s power will be present in coming days so that the elections are free and democratic,” she said.

At a wake Monday in Texistepec, family and friends mourned Lara Gutiérrez and spoke about the fear the violence stirred around the election.

“We can’t continue with the insecurity, we’re tired of all of this, this is terrorism,” said supporter Joaquín Fonseca. “There are five people dead, not one. We’re living the worst of the terrorism.”

Family friend Cruz Morales said the violence is so bad that “we’re afraid to go into the fields, to go see our family in the evening, because we don’t know what’s going to happen to us on the way.”

Lara Gutiérrez was the second mayoral candidate killed in Veracruz during the campaign. On April 29, the first official day of campaigning, gunmen killed Germán Anuar Valencia, also from the governing party at his campaign headquarters in Coxquihui in the northern part of Veracruz.

Nahle said that 57 local candidates had requested security offered by the state and federal government. It was not immediately clear if Lara Gutiérrez had.

Municipal elections are scheduled in Veracruz’s 212 municipalities for June 1.

Local candidates are historically the most vulnerable to election violence as organized criminal groups seek to gain control of local governments.

Later Monday, local press reported that two federal agents and a third person were killed in an attack in the coastal city of Boca del Rio, Veracruz. An Associated Press photojournalist saw federal agents and soldiers maintaining a perimeter around the scene of the shooting.

Neither state nor federal authorities immediately responded to requests to confirm the toll.

Alemán reported from Xalapa, Mexico.

Navy officers stand guard near a vehicle involved in a shootout in Veracruz, Mexico, Monday, May 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Victoria Razo)

Navy officers stand guard near a vehicle involved in a shootout in Veracruz, Mexico, Monday, May 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Victoria Razo)

Members of the general prosecutor's office and the Navy stand guard near a vehicle involved in a shootout in Veracruz, Mexico, Monday, May 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Victoria Razo)

Members of the general prosecutor's office and the Navy stand guard near a vehicle involved in a shootout in Veracruz, Mexico, Monday, May 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Victoria Razo)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer topped out at 94 mph and threw 56 pitches on Friday night in his first Triple-A rehab outing since the Toronto right-hander suffered inflammation in his right thumb.

Scherzer, 40, signed a one-year, $15.5 million deal with the Blue Jays in February. Scherzer left his debut start with the team against Baltimore on March 29 after three innings because of soreness in his right lat muscle. The next day, Toronto put Scherzer on the injured list because of inflammation in his thumb.

Scherzer gave up two runs, struck out four and walked none over 4 1/3 innings in an anticipated start for Triple-A Buffalo against Columbus. He waved in appreciation to a crowd that gave him a big ovation as he walked off the field.

“Got my work in,” Scherzer told reporters in Buffalo. “You get back out there and be in a real game. It's nice to face somebody else and be in a real game.”

Scherzer did allow a 425-foot home run to one of the top 100 prospects in minor league baseball, Columbus left fielder C.J. Kayfus.

“It’ll be the most watched Triple-A game for a while,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “Or most uploaded Triple-A game.”

Schneider said ahead of Toronto's game Friday night in Philadelphia that the box score didn't matter to him. He wanted to make sure Scherzer came out of the game healthy.

“I want to see how Max feels tomorrow,” Schneider said. “I could care less about the line score. I want to see 60-65 pitches. I want to see the fastball velo is good and he's coming out healthy.”

Scherzer has had two cortisone injections this season to relieve inflammation in his thumb. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list last month, but became eligible to return May 29.

Scherzer won World Series titles with Washington in 2019 and Texas in 2023. He won his first Cy Young Award after going 21-3 with a 2.90 ERA in 32 starts for Detroit in 2013. The eight-time All-Star earned consecutive NL Cy Young Awards with Washington in 2016 and 2017.

“I'm not celebrating anything until I'm actually back in the big leagues and big league games and recovering in big league games,” Scherzer said. “The thumb issue is a serious issue. I'm still not out of the woods.”

Schneider said Scherzer would likely need one more rehab start before he can join the Blue Jays' rotation. The Blue Jays are in second place behind the Yankees in the AL East.

“The plan right now is to meet us here and probably throw a bullpen and then go back and do another one,” Schneider said.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

FILE - Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer (31) throws during the first inning of baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Toronto. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

FILE - Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer (31) throws during the first inning of baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Toronto. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

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