Mayoral candidate of Mexico's Celaya killed on first day of campaign

A ruling party mayoral candidate for Celaya, Gisela Gaytan, was fatally shot during an event in central Mexico during her campaign, despite requesting security protection. 

Additionally, a city council candidate, Adrian Guerrero,  was initially reported as "fatally shot", but the security ministry later confirmed the person was missing, The Guardian reported. 

Gaytan, a 38-year-old former litigator, was killed Monday by gunmen after presenting her security strategy plan before a rally in Celaya, Guanajuato. The state prosecutor is investigating the killing but no arrests have been made.

Although the reason behind Gaytan's killing is unclear, her killing is a result of Guanajuato state's high homicide rates and turf wars between criminal groups.

Gaytan was the only female candidate in Celaya, one of the deadliest cities in the world and one of the most dangerous places to be a police officer in North America.

She was part of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's ruling National Regeneration Movement (Morena) party. 

Earlier in the day, Gaytan told reporters that Morena had requested security from the state for her campaign. "We are looking at the issue to see how it can be resolved," she said. "Let's see if they have an answer for us today."

Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez promised justice and announced an investigation into why Gaytan did not receive protection from state authorities.

She acknowledged Morena had requested security measures for all its candidates from the country's National Electoral Institute (INE), but  Guanajuato's electoral body had yet to start the necessary process for security protocols.