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 incident, part of a series of violent events this holiday season, highlights the increasing violence in the area.
The attack unfolded at the Ex Hacienda San José del Carmen event hall, where assailants stormed into a posada, a traditional Christmas celebration. The attackers, targeting a crowd mainly between the ages of 17 and 35, opened fire in the central courtyard of the venue.
Witness accounts from Salvatierra indicate the gunmen used a side entrance to enter the event hall, firing at guests indiscriminately and setting fires before fleeing the scene. Of the injured, two are reported in critical condition.
In a related event, Salamanca, a city in proximity to Salvatierra, reported four additional deaths under uncertain conditions, raising the overall fatalities to 16.
Guanajuato, notable for its automotive and aeronautics sectors, has been plagued by a high rate of homicides, frequently associated with feuds among major drug cartels, including factions backed by the Jalisco and Sinaloa cartels.
In response to these events, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador called for the resignation of the Guanajuato state prosecutor, pointing to the uncontrolled violence.
Additionally, a separate incident occurred in Tulum, Quintana Roo, where an attack at a bar resulted in three fatalities and four injuries, suspected to be connected to local drug disputes. This incident, along with others, led to a U.S. State Department travel advisory for Mexican Caribbean regions, advising increased vigilance.
The Mayor of Salvatierra, German Cervantes, denounced the violence and committed to working with the prosecutor’s office in the investigation. The probe is looking into the potential involvement of the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel, suggested by the association of one of the party attendees with a rival cartel.
Authorities are actively pursuing the perpetrators of these violent acts.
