18 mayoral candidates killed ahead of Mexico's July elections, 2 in less than 24 hours

The killings have particularly hit states like Michoacan, Guerrero and Oaxaca.
by Associated Press / Jun.22.2018 / 9:43 AM ET

MEXICO CITY — Two mayoral candidates in two different Mexican towns have been killed in less than 24 hours, marking a total of at least 18 candidates killed so far in campaigns leading up to the July 1 elections.

An independent mayoral candidate was gunned down in the conflict-ridden rural town of Aguililla in the western state of Michoacan on Wednesday. Michoacan Gov. Silvano Aureoles vowed to catch those responsible for killing candidate Omar Gomez Lucatero.

Aguililla is an extensive but sparsely populated mountain township where drug gangs and vigilantes have been active.

And early Thursday, the mayoral candidate for the leftist Democratic Revolution Party was killed in Ocampo, also in Michoacan.

More:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/18-mayoral-candidates-killed-ahead-mexico-s-july-elections-2-n885706