May 2025 TorchStone Global Monthly Executive Protection Report
TorchStone Global believes that broader situational awareness and intelligence are key to providing quality executive protection—whether the principal is a Fortune 500 CEO, international celebrity, or local city council member. With that in mind, we are launching our monthly executive protection report, cataloging incidents we have captured through our open-source searches that are relevant to the practice of executive protection. We hope the report will serve as a centralized source of threat activity to provide insight into current trends in threats to high-profile individuals.
For more information on customized threat tracking for at-risk individuals, threat assessments, executive protection, or other security services, please contact us.
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Summary
The TorchStone Executive Protection Report tracked 24 domestic and 17 international security incidents or updates to prior incidents impacting high-profile individuals during the month of May. Below are some key incidents of note over the past month.
- A man who forced his way into a billionaire’s Montecito, CA, mansion and violently assaulted a woman serves as a reminder of the continued elevated threat against business executives. On 21 May, a Nevada man broke into a residence belonging to Beanie Babies founder and CEO, Ty Warner, and began screaming that the home belonged to him. Warner was home at the time but was not injured. A 60-year-old woman who was at the residence suffered serious head injuries in the attack that left her in a coma. While the assailant’s motives remain unclear, another attack on a CEO highlights the persistent threat to corporate executives. Several days after the attack, TorchStone identified a website titled “Luigi Was Right” that included databases of corporate executives and their contact details. While the original site was taken down, others have reposted it elsewhere. The apparent effort to dox executives is a concerning step beyond the usual denouncement of CEOs that has become common online as social media users continue to venerate Luigi Mangione. Mangione is set to appear in New York State Court in Manhattan on 26 June 2025 to face state charges. We expect that this public appearance will re-ignite public discussion of his attack and criticism of corporate executives in general.
- There were two publicized incidents targeting high-net-worth cryptocurrency investors and their families over the past month. In both incidents, kidnapping gangs appear to have targeted family members of wealthy cryptocurrency investors and executives to extract ransoms from the principals. While these most recent incidents of crypto kidnapping occurred in France, the threat has been well established around the world. In response to the increase in crypto kidnapping, several insurance firms are developing special kidnap & ransom insurance tailored for cryptocurrency investors.
- Two Major League Baseball pitchers reported receiving threats on social media related to gambling. Lance McCullers Jr. for the Houston Astros reported receiving death threats after a disappointing start against the Cincinnati Reds. Red Sox pitcher Liam Hendriks said that he and his wife received death threats that referenced his 2023 cancer diagnosis. Learn more about TorchStone’s guidance regarding the physical threats to athletes, coaches, and staff associated with the rise in sports gambling.
Business Executive
| Location: Méreau, France | Tactic: Attack | Venue: Public Area |
May 4, 2025: French authorities rescued a 60-year-old kidnapping victim and are investigating the kidnapping of a cryptocurrency investor abducted in the daylight hours. Four men in ski masks kidnapped the 60-year-old man, demanded his crypto-millionaire son pay a €5-7 million ransom. The kidnappers emphasized the seriousness of their threat by removing one of the victim’s fingers. Authorities fear that if they had not found the kidnapped investor, the attackers would have removed more of the man’s fingers. They freed the victim in a raid and arrested five suspects in their 20s. The attack has the same characteristics as an attack that occurred earlier in January of 2025 involving the kidnapping of the co-founder of the crypto firm Ledger, David Balland.
| Location: Paris, France | Tactic: Attack | Venue: Public Area |
May 13, 2025: Three masked men attempted to kidnap the daughter and 2-year-old grandson of a cryptocurrency CEO on Rue Pache in Paris’s 11th arrondissement. Disguised as delivery workers, the assailants tried to force the victims into a van, but the child’s father intervened, physically confronting the attackers. Despite sustaining injuries, his actions thwarted the kidnapping attempt. French police are investigating the incident and suspect the motive is linked to the CEO’s cryptocurrency holdings.
| Location: Montecito, CA | Tactic: Attack | Venue: Home |
May 21, 2025: Local authorities charged a 43-year-old man from Nevada with breaking into and barricading himself in the home of billionaire Ty Warner, the CEO of Ty Inc., which makes Beanie Babies. Mr. Warner was home at the time but was not injured. The suspect did physically assault a financial services executive who was at the residence, leaving her in a coma. The suspect’s motive is unknown. Media reports note that he is a military veteran with a well-established history of mental health issues, violence, and threats to authorities. The suspect in the attack has most recently been tied to crimes in Colorado. The District Attorney’s office has since charged the suspect with several crimes, including attempted murder.
| Location: Kurgan, Russia | Tactic: Attack | Venue: Home |
May 22, 2025: A man attacked Andrey Kondratyev, the deputy general and chief designer of the Russian defense enterprise Kurganpribor, with a hammer outside his home. The assailant targeted Kondratyev as he returned from work. Kurganpribor is known as one of the leading companies in the Russian defense industry, producing rocket systems, missiles, and bombs. Ukraine has targeted Russian military officials supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine in the past.
Celebrity
| Location: Copacabana, Brazil | Tactic: Stalking | Venue: Other Restricted Area |
May 4, 2025: Brazilian authorities thwarted a plot to bomb Lady Gaga’s free beach concert in Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana in what the police named “Operation Fake Monster.” Over two million people were in attendance. The attacks involved homemade weapons, such as Molotov cocktails. Police later discovered that the bomb plot targeted LGBTQ+ people in the crowd, as Lady Gaga is known for her advocacy of LGBTQ+ issues. Police report that the two suspects recruited people, including teenagers, on an online hate forum that radicalized young people because they wanted to “gain notoriety on social media.” The forum promoted hate crimes, self-harm, pedophilia, and violent content. Police have charged a man and a teenager in connection with the bomb threat with illegal weapons possession. The teen faces charges of child sex abuse material. The investigation revealed a third suspect planned the “satanic ritual by killing of a child or a baby” during the concert, as he claimed that Gaga was a satanist. Police charged the individual with terrorism. The U.S. Consulate coordinated a swift response with Brazilian authorities.
| Location: Madrid, Spain | Tactic: Other Crime | Venue: Other Restricted Area |
| Location: Los Angeles, CA | Tactic: Stalking | Venue: Home |
May 5, 2025: The LAPD confirmed that a residential security guard detained a man who attempted to crash his car through the front gate of Jennifer Aniston’s home in Bel Air. Jennifer Aniston was home during the incident, but there were no reported injuries. The suspect of the intrusion is an alleged stalker who has harassed Aniston with voicemails and social media messages for nearly two years before escalating to the attempt to breach the gate at her residence. The stalker was convinced that he was in a relationship with Aniston, referring to her as his “bride,” and even traveled from Alabama to California to try to meet her. The subject has been found not mentally competent to stand trial, and a judge ruled that the man must stay at least 100 yards away from Aniston. Read the TorchStone Global analysis of the home attack: “A Case Study in Dealing with Stalkers.“
| Location: Bristol, UK | Tactic: Verbal/Written Threat | Venue: Other Restricted Area |
May 6, 2024: Musicians Jonny Greenwood and Israeli-born Dudu Tassa canceled their UK shows, including one at Bristol Beacon, due to credible threats received by the venues and staff. Greenwood and Tassa condemned the cancellation as censorship, emphasizing that their music aims to unite Middle Eastern cultures beyond political divisions. They criticized both right- and left-wing groups for politicizing their art and expressed frustration over the double standards surrounding artistic freedom.
| Location: Houston, TX | Tactic: Verbal/Written Threat | Venue: Communication Channels |
May 10, 2025: Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. received death threats on social media following a disappointing starting performance in a game against the Cincinnati Reds. According to McCullers’ account of the incident, the threats were “a little bit tough to deal with,” with some of the threats made involving his children. Both McCullers’s and Astros’ manager Joe Espada condemned the threats, and McCullers deleted his X account in response. The Houston Police Department identified the suspect behind the remarks as an overseas gambler who, the department says, claimed he was intoxicated and frustrated about losing a bet when he made the comment. Houston police did not identify the suspect to the public and said no charges will be filed at this time, although the case remains open as charges are considered. Please see TorchStone’s earlier guidance on threats associated with sports gambling.
| Location: Philadelphia, PA | Tactic: Attack | Venue: Public Area |
May 11, 2025: A gunman fatally shot Philadelphia rapper and anti-violence activist Qidere Johnson, known as LGP Qua, in the city’s Juniata Park neighborhood. LGP Qua suffered multiple gunshot wounds and he died at Temple University Hospital later that day. LGP Qua gained prominence through viral Instagram freestyles addressing issues like police brutality and youth violence, earning him the moniker “Voice of the Youth.” No arrests have been made, and police are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
| Location: Tehachapi, CA | Tactic: Attack | Venue: Other Restricted Area |
May 12, 2025: An inmate reportedly stabbed rapper Tory Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, 14 times at a California Correctional Institution. Lanez is serving a 10-year prison sentence at a California prison for shooting rapper Megan Thee Stallion in 2020. The attack occurred at 7:30 am on prison grounds, resulting in multiple wounds to the back, head, face, torso, and collapsed lungs. Prison staff administered first aid before transporting Lanez to a hospital in Bakersfield. His injuries are not life-threatening. Authorities are currently investigating the motive behind the prison assault.
| Location: Puebla, Mexico | Tactic: Other Crime | Venue: Public Area |
May 14, 2025: Los Ángeles Azules, a renowned Mexican cumbia band, fell victim to a robbery when their equipment truck was intercepted at a fake security checkpoint while returning from a concert in Tabasco, Mexico. Believing the roadblock to be legitimate, the band’s crew stopped, allowing the thieves to steal their instruments and audio gear. Despite the loss, the group has continued their tour, with upcoming performances scheduled, including two nights at the Orange County Fair in August.
| Location: Jalisco, Mexico | Tactic: Attack | Venue: Office |
May 14, 2025: Mexican beauty influencer Valeria Márquez was shot dead during a TikTok livestream at her salon in Zapopan, Jalisco. A man entered the salon and fatally shot her moments after she expressed concern about an unexpected gift delivery. The Jalisco state prosecutor is investigating the case as femicide, highlighting Mexico’s ongoing struggle with gender-based violence.
| Location: Los Angeles, CA | Tactic: Attack | Venue: Home |
May 14, 2025: Little Mermaid actress and singer Halle Bailey obtained a restraining order against her ex-boyfriend, rapper DDG (Darryl Dwayne Granberry, Jr.), alleging repeated abuse and fearing for the safety of their 17-month-old son, Halo. In court documents, Bailey described multiple incidents of physical violence, including a January altercation where DDG allegedly slammed her face into a steering wheel, chipping a tooth, and a March episode where he unlawfully entered her home and sent her a threatening message. The restraining order mandates that DDG stay at least 100 yards away from Bailey and Halo, prohibits him from possessing firearms, and restricts him from contacting them directly or indirectly. Additionally, the judge granted Bailey temporary sole legal and physical custody of Halo, with a court hearing scheduled for 6 June to determine if these orders will be extended or modified.
| Location: Miami, FL | Tactic: Attack | Venue: Public Area |
May 16, 2025: A video circulating across social media shows NFL player Antonio Brown fighting off several attackers who tried to steal his jewelry and cause him physical harm outside of a kickboxing event. In one video, Brown is allegedly holding a gun in self-defense, and some viewers reported that they heard gunshots. Police temporarily detained Brown in the incident and immediately released him. Antonio Brown has threatened legal action against the perpetrators.
| Location: Dundee, Scotland | Tactic: Attack | Venue: Other Restricted Area |
May 17, 2025: Police in Scotland are investigating after a fan threw part of a seat at Aberdeen’s Jack Mackenzie, causing a “serious facial injury.” Aberdeen’s manager confirmed that Mackenzie is okay. Police have asked the public for additional information and for witnesses to come forward. The Scottish Professional Football League warned it would impose “footballing sanctions” due to the “disgraceful” behavior of fans. Aberdeen has pledged to take “the strongest possible action available” if the individual is identified.
| Location: Encino, CA | Tactic: Other Crime | Venue: Home |
May 18, 2025: A group of men broke into actor Anthony Anderson’s residence in Encino, prompting a police response at around 11 p.m. Los Angeles police confirmed that three individuals entered the home, though it remains unclear whether any property was taken or if anyone was inside at the time. No arrests have been made, and the investigation remains ongoing.
| Location: Australia | Tactic: Other Crime | Venue: Communication Channels |
May 19, 2025: Nicholas Cartwright, a popular actor on Australian television soap opera Home and Away, warned of a Facebook catfish scam after an individual impersonating him contacted female fans. Cartwright claimed the scammers are impersonating him to lure female fans into thinking that they are in a relationship with him. Then, the scammers ask the women for cash. Cartwright said, “A lot of women are getting scammed and catfished by profiles on Facebook using my image. I’ve been getting a lot of messages about it.” He apologized to fans who have been victims of the scam on social media. “Catfishing” refers to the tactic of creating a fake online persona to deceive, and it is often used for financial gain. Some scam victims have retaliated against targeted companies. In these situations, it is important for companies to focus on monitoring and de-escalation.
| Location: Boston, MA | Tactic: Verbal/Written Threat | Venue: Communication Channels |
May 21, 2025: Liam Hendriks, a pitcher for the Red Sox, claimed that “disgusting and vile” death threats are targeting him and his wife. Hendriks condemned the threats in an Instagram post and said that “enough is enough” when discussing the comments about his past cancer diagnosis. Hendriks said that the increasingly disturbing threats are due to the rise of sports gambling, claiming that people have made hateful comments on social media after losing bets on the athletes.
| Location: Airports | Tactic: Stalking | Venue: Other Restricted Area |
May 31, 2025: In a TikTok video that received nearly one million views, former college gymnast Olivia Dunne told followers that she fears that she is being stalked. Dunne said that middle-aged men harass her every time she goes to the airport, yelling for her autograph and “making a scene.” The men approach her with a stack of her photos in magazines, following her through TSA lines, while scaring nearby travelers in the airport. While Dunne has long faced the threat of stalking, her appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit this month likely further contributed to public interest. Dunne said that similar incidents have occurred in the past, reporting that American track & field Olympic champion Gabby Thomas spoke out about the same issue in January of 2025, and that tennis player Coco Gauff also has experienced the same situation. She speculates that the airline may have something to do with perpetuating the stalking, alleging that there may be someone who works for the airline “tipping them off.” She says that security has started traveling with gymnasts from her alma mater, Louisiana State University.
Federal Government
| Location: Kampala, Uganda | Tactic: Attack | Venue: Public Area |
April 27, 2025: The son of Uganda’s president admitted to detaining and torturing the chief bodyguard for Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine. He admitted on social media that he captured Eddie Mutwe and planned to castrate him. Mutwe had been summoned to court on robbery charges. According to the Justice Minister, Mutwe appeared in court “in a visibly weak condition” and showed signs of torture. The Justice Minister alleged that he had been “detained, brutalized, and tortured,” as he was barely able to walk in court. Mutwe’s lawyer said that his client claimed he suffered torture daily, electrocution, and beatings with “wires of electricity.” He said that people in face coverings tortured him in a private home. The Ugandan Human Rights Commission ordered Mutwe’s release. Museveni’s son has made violent threats to opposition leaders in the past, claiming that he wanted to behead opposition leader Bobi Wine. Museveni’s opponents have accused his government of “human rights abuses, abductions, and illegal detentions.” Museveni is up for re-election, and he is expected to face Bobi Wine in the election in 2026.
| Location: Tougaloo, MS | Tactic: Verbal/Written Threat | Venue: Communication Channels |
May 5, 2025: After Democratic Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett gave a commencement speech at Tougaloo College in Mississippi, the College released a statement explaining that individuals affiliated with the college have received several concerning calls and threatening messages. Tougaloo College reports that administrators have contacted law enforcement authorities and enacted safety protocols. The College has reached out to the community to ask them to help keep the campus safe and report anything suspicious to Vice President Donavon Coley.
| Location: Washington, D.C. | Tactic: Verbal/Written Threat | Venue: Communication Channels |
May 7, 2025: U.S. Representative Derrick Van Orden announced via X that he would miss congressional votes and postpone an upcoming town hall due to a credible threat made against his wife. He did not disclose the nature of the threat and emphasized the seriousness of the situation. He stated that his office fully cooperates with law enforcement to ensure his family’s safety.
| Location: Kentish Town, North London, UK | Tactic: Attack | Venue: Home |
May 12, 2025: UK authorities have arrested four individuals suspected of arson attacks on properties connected to UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, alleging that the suspects intended to endanger his life. British counterterrorism police are investigating three incidents: a fire at Sir Starmer’s Kentish Town property where he previously lived, a fire at the Prime Minister’s private home, and a vehicle fire on the same street. Two of the four suspects are Ukrainian nationals, and a third is a Ukrainian-born Romanian citizen. Questions remain as to whether the individuals acted on behalf of Russia, as part of Russia’s campaign of “hybrid warfare” against the West.
| Location: Washington, D.C. | Tactic: Harassment | Venue: Other Restricted Area |
May 14, 2025: During a Senate hearing, protesters interrupted Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. The House Committee on Appropriations interrogated Secretary Kennedy on controversial topics, including abortion access, vaccines, lead poisoning, measles, biomedical research, and the opioid epidemic. In the second hearing, the small group of protesters stood up in their seats and chanted, “RFK kills people with AIDS.”
| Location: New York, NY | Tactic: Verbal/Written Threat | Venue: Communication Channels |
May 19, 2025: The FBI is investigating a New York man accused of threatening to shoot President Trump and Elon Musk on social media, posting a graphic animation that showed President Trump’s head exploding. The image had the caption, “I can do that with a .270 from 300 yards.” The FBI affidavit alleges that the suspect said, “Elon Musk has ‘declared war on Social Security’…Millions of us will declare war back.” The FBI has asked a court for a search warrant and identified possible illegal guns at the home.
| Location: Madrid, Spain | Tactic: Attack | Venue: Public Area |
May 19, 2025: Multiple gunmen killed Andriy Portnov, a Ukrainian former aide to exiled President Viktor Yanukovych, after he dropped off his children at a private school in Madrid. Spanish police found that several people shot Portnov “in the back of the head.” The shooters fled the scene, and emergency services found Portnov lying on the pavement with at least three gunshot wounds. Portnov previously worked as the deputy head of the presidential administration for Yanukovych, an ally of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. Yanukovych later fled to Russia during pro-EU protests in Ukraine. After Yanukovych fled to Russia, Portnov fled to Russia and Austria, returning to Ukraine after the election of President Volodymyr Zelensky. The U.S. has imposed sanctions on Portnov due to alleged corruption, and reports claim that he escaped Ukraine again in 2022 with the help of his connections. Portnov fled Ukraine despite a ban on men eligible for military service leaving the country during the Russian invasion. Ukraine is linked to several assassinations of pro-Russian supporters of Putin’s war in Ukraine.
| Location: Washington, D.C. | Tactic: Attack | Venue: Public Area |
May 21, 2025: A gunman shot two Israeli Embassy staffers as they departed an event for young Jewish professionals in diplomacy organized by the American Jewish Committee at the Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. During his arrest, the gunman shouted, “Free Palestine.” According to the DC Metropolitan Police Department, officers did not see anything suspicious in the suspect’s background, and there had been no interactions between the suspect and law enforcement prior to the attack. Police officials are working to determine whether the attack was an act of terrorism or a hate crime. As of this time, the individual is believed to have acted alone.
| Location: Juneau, WI | Tactic: Verbal/Written Threat | Venue: Communication Channels |
May 22, 2025: Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem released a statement after ICE arrested a suspect who threatened to assassinate President Trump. According to Secretary Noem, the suspect was in the United States illegally and wrote a letter to ICE pledging to self-deport after shooting the President in the head at one of his rallies. The statement notes that the suspect had a criminal record.
| Location: Fyzabad, Trinidad & Tobago | Tactic: Harassment | Venue: Home |
May 24, 2025: A man armed with a sword visited the home of Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo and complained about rising crime rates in the area. He warned that the minister should not stay at his home and demanded better security in the area before departing. Police were searching for the suspect at the time of the report. Tancoo was sworn in as Finance Minister on May 3, 2025.
| Location: Jerusalem, Israel | Tactic: Harassment | Venue: Office |
May 26, 2025: Israeli lawmaker Ofir Katz of the Likud Party reported he received an envelope with a threatening letter and a suspicious white substance. The note said, “We will locate one of your family members . . . and harm him . . . exactly like what happened to the 1,400 casualties on October 7.” Several Israeli government ministers have reported receiving threatening letters with white powder delivered to their homes, and these letters have targeted members of Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition.
State Government
| Location: New York, NY | Tactic: Verbal/Written Threat | Venue: Communication Channels |
May 6, 2025: Three New York City politicians, Council Members Althea Stevens and Crystal Hudson, and State Senator Michael Gianaris received threatening emails from an individual. The email to Stevens’ office included a bomb threat, claiming explosives were planted in the bathroom and near the mail area; however, authorities found no bombs upon investigation. Hudson’s office received a message threatening arson and a mass shooting, allegedly from someone claiming to be a disgruntled police officer. Law enforcement is investigating these incidents, and no arrests have been made.
| Location: Homer Glen, IL | Tactic: Verbal/Written Threat | Venue: Communication Channels |
May 16, 2025: Police have arrested a man for allegedly threatening Republican lawmaker Rep. Nicole La Ha online, writing messages that said, “Say goodbye to your old friends and family,” and “orders have been delivered.” The man is held on a count of felony for threatening a public official and a misdemeanor count of harassment through electronic communication.
| Location: Trenton, NJ | Tactic: Verbal/Written Threat | Venue: Communication Channels |
May 19, 2025: U.S. Marshals arrested a New Jersey man for threatening to kill Gov. Phil Murphy in Florida, pulling him over as he rode his motorcycle and arresting him. The man will be extradited to New Jersey. There is limited information on the nature of the threat.
| Location: Salt Lake City, UT | Tactic: Verbal/Written Threat | Venue: Communication Channels |
May 27, 2025: Lieutenant Governor Deidre Henderson received death threats after a meeting with the Rules Review and General Oversight Committee of Utah. During the meeting, committee members considered changes to Utah’s signature verification process, and two people accused Lieutenant Governor Henderson’s office of interfering with the election of candidate Spencer Cox for Governor. One of Cox’s supporters posted a photo of the Lieutenant Governor and a death threat, prompting followers to suggest she should be imprisoned. In reference to the Lieutenant Governor, several users posted images of nooses, electric chairs, and other symbols of “public executions.”
Local Government
| Location: Monroe, NC | Tactic: Harassment | Venue: Communication Channels |
April 30, 2025: Mayor Robert Burns of Monroe, North Carolina, filed a police report alleging cyberstalking by local activist Kara Murphy, who reportedly posted photos of him and his family online without consent. Burns expressed concerns for his safety, citing ongoing harassment from Murphy and the group “Change for Monroe.” In response, Murphy accused Burns of initiating a harassment campaign against her and the LGBTQ+ community, leading to a heated exchange on social media. The dispute culminated in a legal agreement requiring Murphy to remove posts containing personal information about Burns, while allowing her to continue public criticism of his official actions.
| Location: Flint, MI | Tactic: Harassment | Venue: Home |
May 5, 2025: Protesters marched from Flint City Hall to Mayor Sheldon Neeley’s residence, carrying a casket labeled “until you do right by Flint, everything you touch will crumble,” symbolizing their discontent with the city’s leadership and ongoing issues stemming from the Flint Water Crisis. A local activist organized the “Flint’s Funeral” demonstration and intended to represent the city’s decline under current governance. Authorities are actively investigating the incident and have urged residents to report any related information.
| Location: New York, NY | Tactic: Verbal/Written Threat | Venue: Office |
May 6, 2025: Council Member Althea Stevens’ office in Mount Eden, Bronx, received a bomb threat via email, prompting an immediate police response. The NYPD evacuated the building at 1377 Jerome Avenue around 2:30 p.m. and conducted a thorough search, finding no explosives. In a statement, Stevens assured the community that her office is collaborating closely with authorities to ensure safety and continues to serve District 16 residents.
| Location: Athens, GA | Tactic: Verbal/Written Threat | Venue: Communication Channels |
May 7, 2025: An individual threatened Mayor Kelly Girtz on Facebook, and Athens-Clarke County police are investigating. The post claims that an individual, reportedly upset over a job loss, made a threatening statement toward the mayor while at a local tattoo parlor. Authorities have not released further details about the investigation or any potential suspects.
| Location: Texistepec, Veracruz, Mexico | Tactic: Attack | Venue: Public Area |
May 12, 2025: Attackers fatally shot Yesenia Lara Gutiérrez, a mayoral candidate from Mexico’s ruling Morena party, during a campaign event. Bystanders captured the attack on a Facebook Livestream. The attack also claimed the lives of her daughter, two supporters, and injured three others. This incident marks the second killing of a Morena mayoral candidate in Veracruz within two weeks, highlighting escalating political violence ahead of Mexico’s June 1 judicial elections. Authorities have not disclosed a motive, but both President Claudia Sheinbaum and Veracruz Governor Rocío Nahle condemned the attack and pledged to bring the perpetrators to justice.
| Location: Coxquihui, Veracruz, Mexico | Tactic: Attack | Venue: Home |
May 12, 2025: Suspects entered the home of Germán Anuar, a candidate for Mayor of Coxquihui, Veracruz, and shot him, a ten-month-old baby, and two women in the town of El Arenal. Anuar died in the attack, and the other family members were injured. The attack occurred on the same day as campaigns to renew local political positions. An hour prior to the attack, the national leader of Morena Luisa María Alcalde Luján led a press conference for Mayoral candidates’ campaigns. At least 20 mayoral candidates in Veracruz have since requested protection due to a rise in attacks on political leaders. National leaders of PAN and PRI parties have condemned the violence, and the national leader of Movimiento Ciudadano has denounced any “collusion between organized crime and authorities.”
| Location: Mexico City, Mexico | Tactic: Attack | Venue: Public Area |
May 20, 2025: Mexican authorities are investigating the shooting of the personal secretary of Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada and a government advisor in a busy avenue in the capital. The victims died at the scene. The Mexico City government is investigating the motive for the attack. This is one of several assassinations of local politicians in Mexico over the past few months and a possible coordinated campaign to weaken the current Mexican government.
Community Leader
| Location: Los Angeles, CA | Tactic: Attack | Venue: Office |
May 2, 2025: A former security guard entered Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology in Inglewood and shot two women, including the Dean of Student Affairs. The dean died from the gunshot wounds, while the other woman sustained serious injuries. Authorities arrested the individual later that day and charged him with murder, attempted murder, and multiple firearm-related offenses. If convicted, he faces a potential life sentence in state prison.
| Location: Montebello, CA | Tactic: Attack | Venue: Public Area |
April 29, 2025: A Japanese-American history professor reported a vehicle struck him and called him a derogatory racial slur while he rode his bike. Police are investigating and call the incident a possible hate crime. The history professor suffered serious injuries. He reported that while riding his bicycle, he saw a large sedan speeding towards him. Before the sedan hit him, he heard a person yell a racial expletive. The professor claims he had worn a helmet with a visor, making it nearly impossible for anyone to see his face. He notes that it is suspicious that the driver somehow knew he was Asian. The professor alleges that he has been the victim of harassment in the past and he gave the police the name of the suspect. Police continue to search for the driver, and they have been unable to find video footage of the attack.