At least 11 people were killed and another dozen injured when gunmen opened fire on locals who had gathered at a football pitch in the city of Salamanca in central Mexico on Sunday.
Witnesses reported that armed men arrived at the grounds in several vehicles and shot at those present seemingly indiscriminately. Many families had remained to socialize after a match between local clubs, and tragically, among those killed were at least one woman and one child.
The motive behind the shooting remains unclear. Guanajuato, the state in which Salamanca is located, recorded the highest murder rates in Mexico last year, with ongoing violent incidents often attributed to gang conflicts.
Neighbors reported hearing at least 100 shots ring out as the gunmen targeted the Cabañas pitch in the Loma de Flores neighborhood. Local and federal security forces are presently investigating this deadly incident.
This horrific attack follows a series of violent events in the city, where a total of five men were killed and one abducted just a day earlier. The increase in violence is largely attributed to power struggles between gangs involved in oil theft, drug trafficking, and other criminal activities.
Salamanca, known for its major Pemex refinery, has particularly become a hotspot for gang-related violent attacks, with rivalries between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Cartel de Santa Rosa de Lima (CSRL) leading to numerous brutal incidents.
These criminal operations extend beyond Mexico’s borders, with both cartels involved in the smuggling of stolen fuel and illicit drugs into the United States. Recently, the US State Department designated the CJNG as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and enacted sanctions on the CSRL, showcasing the international implications of Mexico's rising gang violence.
US President Donald Trump has aimed to combat drug trafficking, aligning efforts with Mexican authorities to address the influence of these powerful cartels. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has cooperated by handing over suspected gang members to the US as part of counternarcotic initiatives.
