STORY: A member of Congress from Mexico's ruling Morena party was found dead from a gunshot wound in the eastern state of Veracruz on Friday (September 4), less than a year before local and federal elections.

Zenyazen Escobar, a federal legislator representing the coastal state — home to some of the country’s oil complexes — was found dead inside his car with at least one gunshot wound.

“The investigation file is being compiled,” state Attorney General Lisbeth Jimenez told reporters, without providing further details.

The secretary general of Veracruz, Ricardo Ahued, said the lawmaker's vehicle showed no signs of violence.

Mexico's lower house of Congress expressed its condolences to Escobar's family and friends and urged judicial authorities to conduct a "thorough investigation into the facts."

The death occurred as the country prepares to hold elections on June 6 to renew mayoral, state legislative, city council and gubernatorial positions.

In previous elections, various regions have experienced incidents of violence linked to organized crime groups seeking to co-opt political figures and consolidate territorial control.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: PUENTE NACIONAL, VERACRUZ, MEXICO (SEPTEMBER 4, 2026) (REUTERS - Access All)

1. STATE POLICE VEHICLE AND CORDONED OFF AREA NEAR ROAD

2. POLICE AT LOCATION WHERE CONGRESSMAN WAS FOUND DEAD

3. POLICE VEHICLE AND POLICE CORDON

4. LOCATION WHERE CONGRESSMAN WAS FOUND DEAD

XALAPA, VERACRUZ, MEXICO (SEPTEMBER 4, 2026) (REUTERS - Access All)

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VERACRUZ STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL, LISBETH JIMÉNEZ, SAYING:

JIMENEZ: "They are just now talking to me, forensic experts are carrying out inspections, investigations. I mean, I cannot give you information, I can only confirm the death. That is the only thing I can confirm on this, I can only confirm the death. It was at a place called La Gloria, that is all I can confirm. At a place called La Gloria. That is the only thing I can confirm, nothing more.”

REPORTER OFF CAMERA ASKING: Are there more victims?

JIMENEZ: “Only the congressman. That is the only thing I can confirm. It just happened. Forensic experts and prosecutors have just arrived...”

REPORTER OFF CAMERA ASKING: Was he alone?

JIMENEZ: “Alone, there is only one victim: The congressman."

PUENTE NACIONAL, VERACRUZ, MEXICO (SEPTEMBER 4, 2026) (REUTERS - Access All)

6. FORENSIC EXPERTS AT SCENE

7. POLICE VEHICLE AND POLICE CORDON

8. ARMY PERSONNEL AT SCENE

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (ARCHIVE - RELEASED DECEMBER 10, 2025) (ORIGINALLY SHOT IN PORTRAIT) (ZENYAZEN ESCOBAR GARCIA VIA INSTAGRAM - No resales. No archive. Must on-screen courtesy Zenyazen Escobar Garcia via Instagram)

9. CONGRESSMAN ZENYAZEN ESCOBAR IN SELFIE VIDEO SPEAKING FROM CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES (NOT A SOUNDBITE)

GIVEN AS MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (ARCHIVE - RELEASED NOVEMBER 5, 2025) (ORIGINALLY SHOT IN PORTRAIT) (ZENYAZEN ESCOBAR GARCIA VIA INSTAGRAM - No resales. No archive. Must on-screen courtesy Zenyazen Escobar Garcia via Instagram)

10. CONGRESSMAN ZENYAZEN ESCOBAR SPEAKING TO CAMERA FROM MOVING VEHICLE (NOT A SOUNDBITE)