Luis Donaldo Colosio was a prominent politician and the presidential candidate for the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) in Mexico. On the day of the assassination, he was campaigning in Tijuana, where he held a rally to promote his platform for social and economic reforms aimed at addressing the challenges faced by Mexico. As he delivered his speech, the atmosphere was filled with enthusiasm from supporters eager to hear his vision for the future of the nation. However, the festive mood turned to horror when Mario Aburto Martínez approached Colosio and fired a handgun, hitting him in the abdomen and ultimately leading to his death.

Mario Aburto was quickly apprehended at the scene and later tried for the murder. The complexity of the assassination was compounded by various conspiracy theories that suggested involvement from different factions within the political landscape, given the implications Colosio's candidacy had for Mexico's political dynamics. His death marked a significant turning point in Mexican politics, as it highlighted vulnerabilities in the political system and raised concerns over rising political violence and threats against politicians.

In the aftermath, the assassination resulted in increased security measures for candidates and a greater scrutiny of the political environment from the public and media. It set the stage for political transformation within Mexico, eventually leading to further electoral reforms and the questioning of the long-standing dominance of the PRI, which had ruled Mexico for over seven decades. Colosio's vision for a more transparent and democratically robust Mexico resonated with many, paving the way for future reform movements.