Mexican mayor shot dead by gang members for blocking road to his town to prevent coronavirus

A Mexican mayor has been shot dead by gangs after he blocked roads to his town to stop the spread of coronavirus, local media say.

Obed Duron Gomez, the Mayor of Mahahual was reportedly shot whilst travelling to the community of Xcalak, in the southern Mexican state of Quintana Roo.

He was travelling in a white minibus with other passengers when another vehicle pulled alongside them and opened fire.

The mayor was taken to a health clinic where we underwent emergency surgery before being declared dead.

The gunmen managed to escape and investigators found 20 spent cartridges at the scene along with the vehicle allegedly used in the attack nearby.

It is unclear if there were other injuries in the incident.

Local media reported that Gomez had received threats from criminal gangs who pick up drug shipments from the coast after he decided to block the access roads of Mahahual due to the coronavirus crisis.

Reports state several lines of investigation are open, including the murder being a revenge attack after five people were arrested last week.