Suspect arrested after well-known priest shot dead following Mass

Mexican authorities person arrested nan alleged murderer of a Catholic leader and salient quality authorities defender whose sidesplitting triggered world condemnation, officials announced Tuesday.

Father Marcelo Perez, 51, was shot dormant connected Sunday successful nan confederate authorities of Chiapas, which has been shaken by escalating gang-related violence.

The Chiapas nationalist prosecutor's office identified nan alleged "material author" of nan crime arsenic Edgar "N," successful statement pinch nan accustomed believe of not giving afloat names.

It said it had utilized information camera footage, witnesser grounds and different leads to place nan suspect.

Perez's activity connected quality authorities had been recognized by world organizations.

The Mexican agency of nan U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights denounced nan Indigenous priest's execution and called for an "exhaustive" investigation.

Catholic Bishop Rodrigo Aguilar Martínez, halfway left, and Cardinal Felipe Arizmendi return portion successful a Mass successful representation of slain Catholic leader and activistic Marcelo Pérez astatine nan main plaza successful San Andrés Larráinzar, Chiapas state, Mexico, Oct. 21, 2024. AP Photo/Isabel Mateos

Rodrigo Aguilar Martinez, bishop of nan confederate metropolis of San Cristobal de las Casas, called for "decisive action to reconstruct bid successful nan state and particularly successful Chiapas."

The state prosecutors' agency said Rev. Pérez was changeable dormant by 2 gunmen erstwhile he was successful his van, conscionable aft he had vanished celebrating Mass.

"Father Marcelo was leaving nan … parish aft officiating wide and was heading to Guadalupe Church, erstwhile 2 group aboard a motorcycle opened fire," nan agency said.

He had received threats aft speaking retired against supplier trafficking and related unit successful Chiapas, which has been gripped by a cartel turf war.

Hundreds of mourners attended a ceremonial for Perez successful his hometown connected Tuesday, chanting "Long unrecorded Father Marcelo, leader of nan poor!"

Mexico has seen much than 450,000 murders since a arguable subject anti-drug cognition was launched successful 2006, according to charismatic figures.

In 2022, two Jesuit priests were killed inside a religion successful a distant upland organization successful bluish Mexico. In 2016, three priests were killed successful conscionable 1 week in Mexico.

In:
• Drug Cartels
• Mexico
• Murder
• Cartel