Exactly three months after the shocking daylight murders of two close aides to Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada, authorities have announced a major breakthrough in the investigation. On August 20, 2025, Brugada revealed at a press conference that 13 individuals had been arrested in connection with the brutal slayings of Ximena Guzmán, her personal secretary, and José Muñoz, an advisor. The two were gunned down on May 20 in a meticulously planned attack that left residents of the capital both stunned and fearful, as violence against public officials in Mexico City is a rare occurrence compared to other regions of the country.
According to details provided by Mayor Brugada and law enforcement officials, the arrests were the result of a coordinated operation involving both city and federal authorities. The suspects were apprehended in a series of raids conducted in the Mexico City boroughs of Gustavo A. Madero and Xochimilco, as well as in the neighboring México state municipalities of Otumba and Coacalco. In total, eight men and five women were taken into custody, all identified only by their first names, in keeping with Mexican privacy laws.
At the press conference, Brugada stated, “During the early morning today, in coordination with the federal government, an important operation related to the murder of our colleagues Ximena Guzmán and José Muñoz was carried out. Thirteen people were detained, including three people who participated directly in the murder and others connected to the logistical preparation for the attack.”
The three suspects alleged to have been directly involved in the killings were identified as Jesús “N”, Arlette “N”, and Nery “N”. Authorities believe these individuals were present at the scene and aided the shooter’s escape, although the person who actually fired the fatal shots remains at large. The remaining suspects are accused of providing logistical support, including surveillance, vehicle procurement, and coordination in the lead-up to the crime.
Bertha María Alcalde Luján, Mexico City’s chief prosecutor, explained that the investigation had uncovered evidence of “advanced planning sustained over time.” According to Alcalde, Guzmán and Muñoz were followed for approximately 20 days prior to their deaths, with two vehicles routinely monitoring their daily routes to work in the historic center of Mexico City. The authorities believe that the initial plan to murder the two aides was devised for May 14, but was aborted when Guzmán did not pick up Muñoz that day. The fatal attack was rescheduled and executed on May 20.
On the morning of the murders, Guzmán picked up Muñoz outside the Xola Metro station on Tlalpan Avenue, a routine stop for the pair. Security cameras captured a man, his face obscured by a motorcycle helmet, approaching their vehicle and shooting both aides through the windshield. The shooter and accomplices then fled the scene on a motorcycle and in at least one car. As Mexico’s federal security chief, Omar García Harfuch, described, the suspects initially made their way to the La Asunción neighborhood in Iztacalco, a district close to the international airport. There, they abandoned the motorcycle and switched to another vehicle before heading to Ecatepec in México state, where authorities lost track of them in the sprawling urban landscape.
Alcalde further revealed that five vehicles were involved in the operation, including the motorcycle used for the getaway. Some of the suspects arrested were responsible for purchasing and hiding these vehicles, which were essential to both the surveillance and execution of the crime. The 11 properties raided during the arrests were not only linked to the double homicide but are also under investigation for possible ties to drug dealing and vehicle theft, underscoring the complexity and criminal sophistication of the network involved.
Despite the progress, significant questions remain. The shooter who killed Guzmán and Muñoz has not been apprehended, nor have the masterminds, referred to by officials as the "autores intelectuales." During the press briefing, Mexico City Security Minister Pablo Vázquez Camacho stated, “Regarding the motive, there are various lines of investigation. This first stage of the investigation has focused on the perpetration and the logistical support and coordination for the event. We will continue advancing to eventually get to the masterminds.” He emphasized that arresting the shooter is now a priority, adding, “We have lines of investigation, but we are reserving that information to maintain secrecy.”
Officials have so far declined to specify whether the suspects are affiliated with any particular criminal group. The lack of immediate clarity regarding motive and masterminds has prompted speculation and concern among Mexico City residents, who are not accustomed to such high-profile attacks on public officials. The city, while not immune to crime, maintains a lower homicide rate than many other states in Mexico, making this case all the more unsettling for locals.
Guzmán, aged 42, and Muñoz, 52, were described as close and trusted collaborators of Mayor Brugada, having worked with her even before she assumed office. Neither was well-known outside political circles and neither had a personal security detail, a fact that authorities now believe may have made them more vulnerable to attack. Their deaths have sent shockwaves through the capital’s political community and have intensified calls for improved security measures for public servants.
President Claudia Sheinbaum, herself a former mayor of Mexico City, has publicly pledged that justice will be served in the case. Brugada, too, has assured residents that her government “will continue with its relentless fight against insecurity,” vowing that “there would be no impunity” and that those responsible for the crime would be brought to justice.
Omar García Harfuch, addressing the media, acknowledged the frustration and anxiety surrounding the case: “We ask for your understanding in this investigation, which is ongoing. These arrests are just the first actions.” He urged patience as authorities continue to pursue leads and gather evidence that could ultimately lead to the capture of the shooter and the masterminds.
This case has highlighted the broader challenges faced by Mexican officials in combating violence against public servants, a trend that has become increasingly alarming in recent years. While Mexico City has long prided itself on being a relative safe haven compared to other parts of the country, the murders of Guzmán and Muñoz are a stark reminder that no place is immune to the reach of organized crime and political violence.
As the investigation presses forward, the families of the victims, city officials, and the public at large are watching closely, hoping that justice will ultimately prevail. For now, the arrests mark a significant step—but not the final chapter—in a case that has shaken Mexico City to its core.
