MAYOR OF VALLEY OF JUAREZ TOWN IS SHOT DEAD

The Valley of Juarez, which has been struck by drug violence
recently, was dealt another deadly blow Saturday.

The mayor of Guadalupe Distrito Bravo was shot and killed in Juarez,
said Chihuahua state police.

Jesus Manuel Lara Rodriguez, 48, was killed about noon in a home in
the Santa Teresa neighborhood of Juarez.

Chihuahua state police said Lara Rodriguez was shot several times in
the back. At the scene, investigators found 14 bullet casings from a
.223-caliber weapon, police said.

Lara Rodriguez took office in 2007. His term was to end this year
after the July 4 elections.

Guadalupe Distrito Bravo is a community south of Texas' Hudspeth
County with a population of 9,000.

In February 2009, gunmen also killed two members of the town council
of Guadalupe.

Juarez Mayor Jose Reyes Ferriz on Saturday condemned the murder of
Lara Rodriguez.

Reyes Ferriz said Lara Rodriguez was a leader committed to serving
his community's needs.

"This is a great tragedy for the municipality of Guadalupe, the state
of Chihuahua and Mexico because, as a public servant, Jesus Manuel
was a role model," Reyes Ferriz said.

Reyes Ferriz said Guadalupe has been affected by the continual
attacks by organized crime.

Since March, arsonists have destroyed houses and shops, and gang
members have forced residents out with threats of violence.

"The organized crime has escalated to levels of terrorism because of
the attacks of innocent people and has attempted to destabilize the
government by killing public servants. We have to form a common front
to shut them down," Reyes Ferriz said.

Reyes Ferriz said he had already contacted members of the Border
Mayoral Committee to create a plan and help the community of Guadalupe.

He said Lara Rodriguez was an active member of that organization.

Many people have fled the Valley of Juarez and have moved to U.S.
towns including Fort Hancock, Tornillo and Fabens, officials said.