A local mayor in Mexico, Alejandro Aparicio Santiago, has been gunned down on his first day of office on New Year’s Day.

Santiago who is the Mayor of Tlaxiaco, was walking to his first official meeting at city hall shortly after taking office, when a group of gunmen opened fire, according to a statement from the prosecutor’s office of Mexico’s southern state of Oaxaca.

He was taken to a hospital, where he died.Four others were wounded in the attack.

Gov. Alejandro Murat of Oaxaca confirmed the killing of Santiago viaTwitter Tuesday.

Murat condemned Santiago’s slaying, promising a thorough investigation. He said a suspect was already in custody. Between September 2017 and August 2018,175 politicians were killed in Mexico, NPRreported, citing the consulting firm Etellekt. (NAN)