Rev. Marcelo Pérez was shot dead by two gunmen when he was in his van, just after he had finished celebrating Mass, the state prosecutors' office said.

Gunmen in Mexico have shot dead a Catholic priest who was an outspoken advocate for indigenous rights and who had condemned the violence plaguing his community. Father Marcelo Pérez was killed after celebrating Mass in the southern state of Chiapas on Sunday, the prosecutor's office said.

The arrested person was identified as Edwin Antonio "N", a local leader of the Sinaloa Cartel faction led by its legendary co-founder Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada.

Little by little, day by day, people live in fear, schools are empty, young people are disappearing, the streets are empty at night.”

Amid intensifying inter-cartel violence in Mexico, a shootout in Sinaloa state killed 19 suspected gang members while one local cartel leader was arrested, according to the defense ministry

Mexican police have arrested a man accused of murdering a Roman Catholic priest and human rights campaigner in the southern state of Chiapas. Father Marcelo Pérez was killed on Sunday after celebrating Mass at his church in the city of San Cristóbal de las Casas.

Mexican authorities have arrested the alleged murderer of a Catholic priest and prominent human rights defender whose killing triggered international condemnation, officials announced Tuesday.