Background and Relevance of Lex Ashton
Lex Ashton, a 19-year-old individual, tragically took the life of Jesús Israel, a 16-year-old student at the Colegio de Ciencias y Humanidades (CCH) Sur of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). This incident sparked discussions about violence in schools, adolescent mental health, and the role of online communities that glorify hateful acts.
The Incident at CCH Sur
According to the Fiscalía General de Justicia de la Ciudad de México (FGJCDMX), on Monday around 1:00 PM, Lex Ashton attacked Jesús Israel with a weapon in the CCH Sur’s parking lot, resulting in the student’s death. In an attempt to stop him, a 65-year-old administrative worker sustained injuries.
The assailant tried to flee but, feeling cornered, jumped from a building within the campus, sustaining fractures in both legs. He was then taken to a hospital and placed under the custody of the Secretaría de Seguridad Ciudadana.
The FGJ is investigating the case as homicide with aggravating circumstances and intentional injuries.
Official Investigations and Response
Clara Brugada, the head of government, expressed her sorrow over the incident and emphasized that such events should not repeat in schools, which must be spaces of peace, coexistence, and joy. She highlighted that programs like Auxilio Escolar y Vida Plena, Corazón Contento are already in operation at high schools and middle schools in the city, with plans to extend them to CCH to address the mental health of the student community.
Claudia Sheinbaum, the president, described the event as “very painful” and reiterated that the federal government offers support to UNAM and the victim’s family.
The Connection with Incel Communities
Investigations suggest that the perpetrator was involved in online groups identified as “incels” (involuntary celibates), communities that often spread hateful and misogynistic discourse.
Following the attack, social media pages emerged glorifying Lex Ashton and comparing him to Elliot Rodger, responsible for a 2014 California attack that left six dead.
These groups are associated with other acts of violence worldwide, such as the 2018 Toronto van attack that resulted in ten fatalities.
A recent study led by Swansea and Texas Austin universities, published in Archives of Sexual Behavior, found that 37% of self-identified incels reported daily suicidal thoughts, while 48% registered “very high” levels of loneliness in the applied scales.
The researchers also highlight a high prevalence of mental health issues within this community. These findings suggest that loneliness, depression, and suicidal thoughts are not isolated cases among those identifying as incels but consistent characteristics of the studied profile, potentially turning into risk factors for extremist behaviors if not addressed promptly.
Mental Health: An Overdue Debt
Organizations like the Red por los Derechos de la Infancia en México (REDIM) warned that the incident is not isolated but a symptom of a structural problem: the lack of mental health policies in schools.
“When an adolescent feels worthless or without a future, we are facing a collective failure. Reviewing backpacks or criminalizing is not enough; we need companionship and prevention,” said Tania Ramírez, REDIM’s director.
Currently, 153 middle-level schools in Mexico City have psychological support programs, but experts believe it’s insufficient given the student population and the violence and isolation many young people face.
Following the murder, UNAM students called for demonstrations in the week demanding security on campuses and increased attention to mental health.
Key Terms about Incels
Incel: Short for involuntary celibate (involuntary celibate). Refers to individuals, mainly young men, expressing frustration over their inability to establish sexual or affectionate relationships.
Chad: Stereotype of an attractive, successful, and popular man, viewed as the opposite of an incel.
Stacy: Stereotype of an attractive woman who, according to the incel narrative, only relates with “Chads”.
Incel Community: Online groups (forums, social networks, subreddits) where individuals share experiences of loneliness, rejection, and resentment-filled discourse.
Isaac Alí Siles, a sociólogo from UNAM’s CIEG, according to an article on the topic published in UNAM Global, stated that this is a problem many young people face and that we need to find ways to address it to prevent hate speech from escalating into violence.
According to the article “Los incels: When Masculine Frustration Turns into Hate” from the Open University of Catalonia (UOC), emotional education is crucial for learning to manage frustration in healthier ways, avoiding falling into resentment dynamics.
The article also recommends promoting alternative models of masculinity, less tied to domination stereotypes, as a strategy to curb the movement’s expansion. Lastly, Begonya Enguix, a professor of Arts and Humanities at the UOC, emphasizes the need to actively involve men in finding solutions to overcome inequalities.
