In a brutal attack early Sunday, December 17, 2023, gunmen targeted a Christmas party of approximately 50 people in Salvatierra, Guanajuato, Mexico, resulting in the deaths of 12 individuals and wounding at least 11 others. This tragedy, part of a series of violent incidents this holiday season, underscores the escalating violence in the region.
During the attack, assailants entered a “posada,” a traditional Christmas gathering, at the Ex Hacienda San José del Carmen event hall, opening fire on attendees, predominantly aged 17 to 35.
Witnesses in Salvatierra described the assailants entering the event hall through a side entrance and firing indiscriminately in the central courtyard. The attack also involved setting fires before the gunmen fled. Two victims remain in critical condition.
Concurrently, four additional fatalities occurred under unclear circumstances in Salamanca, a nearby city, bringing the total death toll to sixteen.
Guanajuato, a state known for its automotive and aeronautics industries, has become infamous for its high homicide rates, often linked to disputes between major drug trafficking organizations, including the Jalisco cartel and Sinaloa cartel-backed gangs.
Following these incidents, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador demanded the resignation of the Guanajuato state prosecutor, citing rampant violence.
Separately, in Tulum, Quintana Roo, a resort area attack at a bar left three dead and four injured, believed to be related to local drug conflicts. This violence, occasionally involving tourists, prompted a U.S. State Department travel alert for Mexican Caribbean destinations, urging heightened caution.
Salvatierra’s Mayor, German Cervantes, condemned the violence and pledged cooperation with the prosecutor’s office in the investigation, which is exploring possible involvement of the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel, hinted at by the connection of one attendee to a rival cartel.
Authorities continue their efforts to apprehend those responsible for these tragic events.