In a tragic incident in Apaseo el Grande, Guanajuato, Mexico, a mass shooting at a local strip mall killed eight men and left two others injured on the night of November 30, 2024.
The victims were congregated near a stall selling traditional dairy fudge when they were targeted by the assailants. Among the eight deceased are two firefighters and a paramedic. The firefighters are Alejandro Ortega and Ulises Ramírez, and the paramedic is Ricardo Eduardo López Ortega.
Other victims include Fernando Antonio, Ángel Adrián, Édgar, and Rodolfo Alejandro.
This incident adds to the rising wave of violence in Guanajuato, a state embroiled in a bitter turf war between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Santa Rosa de Lima gang. The CJNG has extended its reach across 27 of the 46 municipalities in Guanajuato since 2014, escalating the conflict and making the state one of the deadliest in Mexico. Guanajuato reported an average of 8.5 homicides per day by the start of 2022, highlighting the severity of the situation.
There has been a concerning increase in cartel-related offensives in recent weeks. In the cities of Acámbaro and Jerécuaro, several police officers were injured in car bombings, and 12 mutilated bodies were found in the vicinity, with cartels openly taking responsibility. In Salamanca, armed intruders attacked a drug rehabilitation center, resulting in four deaths and five injuries, using metal spikes to hinder security forces during their departure. These audacious attacks underscore the escalating aggressiveness of the cartels and their lack of regard for human life.
The U.S. State Department has issued strong travel warnings, recommending that Americans steer clear of Guanajuato and other states affected by cartel violence. Guanajuato is one of six states now under a “do not travel” advisory, and seven other states are flagged for reconsideration, reflecting growing international anxiety about the security crisis in Mexico.
President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico has emphasized intelligence gathering and social programs over military action to combat cartel violence. Her strategy, which continues her predecessor’s “hugs, not bullets” policy, aims to tackle root causes like poverty and corruption that breed cartel influence. However, skeptics argue that this approach does not adequately address the immediate and growing threat posed by organized crime.
The CJNG’s expansion into Guanajuato has further destabilized the region. The cartel, a branch of the Sinaloa Cartel, partakes in drug trafficking, extortion, and kidnapping across 27 of Mexico’s 32 states. Its violent feud with the Santa Rosa de Lima gang has turned towns like Apaseo el Grande into war zones, compelling residents to live with daily fear and uncertainty.
Despite promises of reforms and interventions, the road to peace appears elusive. For the communities in Guanajuato, the violence continues unabated, leaving a wake of devastation and shaking institutions. The recent mass shooting in Apaseo el Grande serves as another stark reminder of the human toll of this drawn-out conflict, as Guanajuato’s inhabitants grapple with the devastating aftermath of a war they did not instigate.
