3 Family Members Dead; Ambushed on Vacation

An ambush in Durango, Mexico, just outside the town of Las Palmas within the Santiago Papasquiaro municipality, has left three members of an American family dead and a 14-year-old boy critically wounded and in a coma.

The deadly incident occurred while Vicente Peña Jr. of Chicago, Illinois, was visiting family in Mexico with his son, Jason Peña, for the holidays.

During the attack, Vicente Peña, his brother Antonio Fernandez, and 22-year-old Mexican resident Jorge Eduardo Vargas Aguirre were shot and killed. Jason Peña, the only survivor, was critically injured.

Julia Contreras of United Giving Hope, a non-profit organization assisting the family, reached out to the U.S. State Department to help bring Jason and other surviving family members back to the U.S. “As you can only imagine, this is a nightmare for his mother. And right now, what we’re trying to do is provide that advocacy and security,” she stated.

Maria Elena Hernandez, Jason’s grandmother, was in Chicago, Illinois when she received a distressing call from her daughter, relaying the heartbreaking news. Speaking through a translator to WLS, she shared her family’s profound grief and uncertainty following the tragic event.

The boy’s grandfather, Vicente Peña, referred to the incident as a “massacre” in an interview with WMAQ-TV. Speaking in Spanish, he detailed the devastating loss, revealing that his son had been “shot four times in the head.”

According to Contreras, the family spokesperson, the attack took place after Vicente Peña, Antonio Fernandez, and Jorge Eduardo Vargas Aguirre left their residence to buy supplies. After they failed to return, Jason’s grandfather informed the authorities, who found their SUV, registered in Illinois, and the bodies of the three men, all with multiple gunshot wounds.

Contreras stated that Mexican authorities have not yet provided a motive for the attack. However, she noted that locals reportedly avoid the highway after dark due to the presence of cartels.

Jason was initially treated locally before being airlifted to Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston. His mother, who wished to remain anonymous due to safety concerns while in Mexico, accompanied him.

The U.S. embassy has confirmed the deaths of two Americans in Santiago Papasquiaro and the injury of a minor. While Mexican authorities in Durango are continuing their investigation into the incident, the embassy is providing support to the victims’ families. However, detailed information about the incident remains scarce.

The Durango Attorney General’s Office revealed on Monday, January 6, 2025, that Iram Uranga Armendariz has been formally charged in connection with the attack. Armendariz received a prison sentence of 66 years, seven months, and nine days. The incident reportedly targeted men accused of failing to pay Armendariz $250,000 for a land purchase.

This incident occurred amidst a surge in violent crime in Durango and other parts of Mexico. The U.S. State Department currently advises Americans to exercise increased caution while in the country due to the high levels of violent crime, including homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery.

According to a SpotFund campaign with a $25,000 goal launched by Jason’s mother, the 14-year-old traveled to Durango, Mexico, with his father, brother, and uncle to celebrate his birthday and visit relatives.

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