The mayor of Ayala, Morelos, Nayeli Mares Mérida, was unharmed after unknown individuals shot at the façade of her home on the afternoon of Sunday, January 26. According to initial investigations, 9 impacts were detected against the door and the façade, as well as an equal number of fired cartridges in the area. The emergency call was made around 5:45 PM, and authorities went to the residence in the town of Moyotepec, confirming it was the house of the Municipal President.
"Due to the delicate nature of the event, we will respect the investigation process and will not make further comments on the matter. I deeply appreciate the expressions of solidarity and affection we have received," stated Nayeli Mares Mérida in a statement.
During a press conference held by the head of the State Public Security Secretariat, Miguel Ángel Urrutia Lozano, it was revealed that at least 7 municipalities in Morelos lacked proximity police. Urrutia Lozano pointed out that "only 20% of the police are in the 36 municipalities... seven municipalities do not have municipal police" and urged mayors to reinforce their forces.
At the beginning of this year, on January 5, the residence of the trustee of the municipality of Temixco, Graciela Cárdenas, was also attacked in a similar manner. In that instance, there were no injuries reported and no arrests have been reported so far. In the current January, there are 76 registered victims of violent death in Morelos, a figure lower than that of the same period last year when 119 deaths were recorded.
Despite the search operation coordinated by federal and state authorities, no arrests were made. Witnesses reported that two individuals riding a motorcycle slowed down in front of the residence and fired from the back towards the house of the mayor of Ayala.
Nayeli Mares Mérida confirmed that both she and her family and close individuals are out of danger, according to a statement published on her social media: "First of all, I thank God for allowing us to be well and I can assure you that both my family and the people who were nearby are out of danger."
