A tourist was fatally shot in Puerto Escondido, Mexico, making this the second violent demise of a tourist along Oaxaca’s southern coast within less than a week, according to local authorities who reported the incident on May 17.
The victim, 27-year-old Victor Masson from Quebec, Canada, was found in an area of the city less frequented by tourists compared to beachfront locations. The specifics of Masson’s stay in the city and the circumstances of his death are currently unknown, state prosecutors have said.
This incident follows the machete attack on three Argentine tourists on May 12, which led to the death of 23-year-old Benjamin Gamond a few days later. The attack occurred at Laguna de Chacahua, a popular day trip destination from Puerto Escondido. Locals captured the assailant and handed him over to the police, and the motive behind the attack remains under investigation.
While Oaxaca has traditionally been seen as a safer tourist destination compared to areas like the southeastern Mayan Riviera, known for significant drug cartel activity, recent spikes in violence against tourists in destinations such as Playa del Carmen, Cancun, and Tulum have been concerning.
Over the past two years, several tourists, including two Canadians in Playa del Carmen in January 2022, fell victim to homicide. Authorities suggested these Canadians were involved in organized crime. Additionally, two foreign tourists were killed in a shootout outside a Tulum restaurant in October 2021.
In response to increasing violence, the Mexican government has deployed thousands of soldiers to popular coastal areas. However, Oaxaca’s southern coast has seen limited security presence. Given the recent violence in the region, a reevaluation of the government’s security strategy seems necessary to ensure safety in this part of Mexico.