Gunmen Attack Soccer Field in Mexico, Killing 11
A group of gunmen targeted a soccer field in central Mexico on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of 11 individuals and injuring six others during ensuing gunfire. This incident appears to be part of a larger surge in criminal activity affecting the region.
At approximately 5:30 p.m. local time, the assailants, arriving in at least three vehicles, halted their advance in the Loma de Flores neighborhood of Salamanca, situated in Guanajuato state. Investigators reported finding over 100 large-caliber shell casings at the site.
According to Salamanca’s Mayor, Cesar Prieto Gallardo, ten victims succumbed to their injuries at the scene, while one person later died in the hospital. Among the wounded were a woman and a minor; six individuals remain under medical observation.
Gallardo condemned the attack as “deplorable and despicable” and described it as part of a broader “crime wave” troubling Salamanca. He admitted that local authorities are facing challenges in managing the violence and called upon Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum for assistance.
“Unfortunately, there are criminal groups trying to assert dominance over the authorities, but I believe it’s impossible for them to succeed,” the mayor stated, expressing a commitment to finding those responsible.
This violent incident capped off a weekend of turmoil in Salamanca. Separate violent occurrences were reported over the preceding Saturday in nearby communities, resulting in the deaths of five men. Shortly thereafter, authorities discovered four bags containing bodies abandoned in San Antonio de Flores. Just days prior, explosives laced with threatening messages were unearthed at the Pemex refinery run by the state.
Guanajuato recorded the highest murder count in Mexico last year, attributable to an ongoing turf war between the local Santa Rosa de Lima gang and the Jalisco New Generation cartel. The U.S. State Department has recommended that Americans reconsider travel to Guanajuato due to concerns related to crime and terrorism.
While the Mexican government states that the homicide rate fell to 17.5 per 100,000 inhabitants by 2025, officials assert this figure is the lowest since 2016. However, analysts remain skeptical, questioning whether these statistics reflect the true scale of violence throughout the country.
