Asier Vera Guatemala City

Guatemala city

Updated Saturday, April 6, 2024-16:57

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The mayor of the Guatemalan municipality of San Juan La Laguna,

Daniel Chavajay

, was murdered this Friday in his home after being shot four times in the abdomen and, according to his father, Antonio Chavajay, his son had told him that he had

threats

and "That's why he had security," although he regretted that the agents who were taking care of him "were careless."

The president of Guatemala, Bernardo Arévalo, expressed on his social networks his "total rejection and dismay" at the crime committed against Chavajay and reported that he has ordered the Ministry of the Interior to carry out "the pertinent investigation to find the culprits." After showing his "solidarity and closeness" with the family of the first murdered mayor, he sent a message to the other mayors of the country: "The Government is here to support you."

Specifically, Chavajay, 33 years old, was found dead in a house in the Los Encinos condominium, Santuario Muxbal, in the municipality of Santa Catarina Pinula, very close to the country's capital and more than 150 kilometers from San Juan La Laguna, a town who governed after winning the last elections on June 25, 2023 with the ruling party of the last legislature, Vamos, to which the former president of the country,

Alejandro Giammattei,

belonged .

The National Civil Police found four firearm casings in the home, as well as a pistol and, although at first the possibility of a possible suicide was considered, the fact that he had been shot four times in the abdomen ruled out this hypothesis.

The victim's father regretted that his son lived in

a place where "anyone could enter

," so he noted that "surely they leaked and security didn't notice." The body was recognized by a cousin of the mayor, who informed the police officers that around 4:00 p.m., he received a call from the security checkpoint of the condominium where Chavajay lived, informing him that explosions had been heard at the home. , so an hour and a half later he entered and located his deceased relative.

The Municipal Prosecutor's Office of Santa Catarina Pinula processed the crime scene, so prosecutors and criminal investigation technicians carried out the

investigation procedures

to clarify the incident, according to the Public Ministry.

The National Association of Municipalities stressed that Chavajay was "a young mayor who demonstrated a lot of love and

great plans for the well-being of his municipality

," while the Human Rights Attorney,

Alejandro Córdova

, denounced that the murder "not only represents a "A direct attack against a public servant dedicated to the well-being of his community, but also a serious affront against the fundamental right to life." Thus, he demanded that the competent authorities "carry out the necessary actions so that those responsible for this abominable crime are brought before the law and held accountable for their actions."