Gisela Mota Ocampo — Mexican politician and mayor of Temixco

Gisela Mota Ocampo (1982–2016) was a Mexican PRD politician who became mayor of Temixco, Morelos, and was assassinated the day after taking office. Her killing drew national attention to violence against local officials.

Overview

Gisela Raquel Mota Ocampo (13 March 1982 – 2 January 2016) was a Mexican politician and member of the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD). She took office as municipal president (mayor) of Temixco, a municipality in the state of Morelos, on 1 January 2016 and was killed the following day. Her death received widespread national attention and became a symbol of the risks faced by local public officials in parts of Mexico.

Life and political activity

Mota Ocampo was born in 1982 in the municipality where she later served. She was active in local politics through the PRD and participated in municipal affairs, campaigning on community and public service issues. Available public accounts describe her as a young local leader who rose through municipal political networks to win the mayoralty.

Election to Temixco and brief term

After the municipal elections, Mota Ocampo began her term as mayor on 1 January 2016. Her administration was just beginning when she was attacked. The abrupt end to her term meant she served officially for a single day, an event that shocked residents and political observers in Morelos and beyond.

Assassination and immediate aftermath

On 2 January 2016, Mota Ocampo was fatally shot at her home in the Pueblo Viejo neighborhood of Temixco. She was 33 years old. The killing prompted an immediate response from state and federal authorities, calls for investigations, and public demonstrations calling for greater protection for municipal officials and for strengthened public security in affected communities.

Significance and broader context

The murder of a newly elected municipal president highlighted longstanding concerns about violence, organized crime, and impunity in parts of Mexico, particularly at the local level where mayors and other officials often confront security challenges directly. Her death was cited in debates about police protection for public servants, the safety of local governance, and the need for judicial follow-up to violent crimes against politicians.

Key facts

Full name: Gisela Raquel Mota Ocampo
Born: 13 March 1982
Died: 2 January 2016 (shot at home in Pueblo Viejo, Temixco)
Political party: Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD)
Office: Municipal president (mayor) of Temixco, Morelos (1–2 January 2016)