The police chief of a small town in central Mexico was killed by hooded gunmen after attending a regional meeting of police chiefs, local media reported Thursday.

It is believed to be the latest of a series of murders targeting public officials and related to the war on drug smuggling.

Mario Mejia Ruvalcaba, 33, was the police chief of Mexticacan, a small town in the central state of Jalisco. He was ambushed late Wednesday on his way home after attending a regional police chief meeting in nearby Canadas, local broadcaster Milenio reported.

Mejia was driving. He slowed his vehicle after finding the road blocked by road cones and then came under fire.

The hooded gunmen quickly fled the scene.

His passenger and patrolman Petronilo Martinez suffered non-fatal injuries in the attack.

Officers from the Jalisco Forensic Science Agency (IJCF) said they found 50 shells at the scene from AK-47 or AR15 assault rifles. A Tiguan van was found abandoned in a nearby ravine with shells and balaclavas.

Mexico has seen a number of public officials murdered this year, including 10 mayors, mostly from small towns, and one gubernatorial candidate from the state of Tamaulipas.

Analysts have linked the killings with Mexico's war on drug smugglers. Official statistics show some 28,000 people have been killed in gang-linked murders.