Assassinated Temoac mayor was under investigation for organized crime ties

Valentín Lavín Romero, the mayor of Temoac, Morelos, was assassinated inside his office on July 22, 2026. Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch later confirmed that Lavín had been under investigation for suspected links to criminal cells Los Aparicio and Los Huazulco Source: Excelsior MX.

The Attack

• Around 12:30 p.m., two armed men entered the municipal palace and shot Lavín with handguns, then fled on motorcycles Source: Hoy DO.
• This was the second attack on Lavín in 2026; he survived a shooting in January on the Mexico-Oaxaca highway Source: El Colombiano.
• Authorities secured the crime scene and launched a coordinated search operation across the region Source: Milenio MX.

Investigation and Criminal Links

• García Harfuch stated that Lavín was being investigated for alleged ties to Los Aparicio and Los Huazulco, groups involved in extortion, kidnapping, drug dealing, and homicide in eastern Morelos Source: Infobae.
• His mother-in-law, Andrea Angelina 'N', alias 'La Patrona', was detained twice, most recently in September 2025, and identified as a likely operator of the criminal structure Source: La Jornada.
• Lavín was also linked to the homicides of activists Samir Flores Soberanes and Sandra Rosa Camacho, as well as other killings, according to Harfuch Source: La Jornada.
• The Frente de Pueblos en Defensa de la Tierra y del Agua had filed a complaint in March 2026 accusing Lavín of intellectual authorship of two homicides Source: Excelsior MX.

Aftermath

• The Fiscalía de Morelos secured the municipal offices to preserve evidence Source: Heraldo MX.
• The principal hypothesis is that the murder was a settling of scores between rival criminal groups Source: Infobae. A substitute mayor is to be appointed, and security operations remain in place Source: Milenio MX.