Mayor of Veintiseis de Octubre district assassinated in Peru

On Thursday, May 21, 2026, 44-year-old Victor Hugo Febre, the mayor of the Veintiseis de Octubre district in Piura province, was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen. The assailants, who concealed their faces with caps, fled the scene on a motorcycle after attacking the mayor as he traveled to his office. While initial reports indicate he died while being transported to a medical facility, the prosecutor's office has launched an official investigation into the circumstances of the attack. Local authorities have characterized the incident as a hit linked to organized crime, marking the third such killing of an elected official in Peru since the beginning of the year. The incident occurred as the country prepares for the second round of presidential elections on June 7, heightening concerns about escalating crime rates in the region near the border with Ecuador. Municipal officials in Piura have condemned the violence and expressed solidarity with the victim's family. The investigation into the suspects remains ongoing as authorities analyze surveillance footage captured by local media.