Seven men were killed and three others critically injured when gunmen opened fire during a horse race at the Carril Santa Teresa track in southern Chihuahua on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. The attack, which occurred near Parral along the Parral-Jimenez highway, sent attendees fleeing into nearby mountains as violence erupted at the popular racing venue.
The shooting began around kilometer four of the Parral-Jimenez highway in Hidalgo del Parral municipality, where spectators had gathered for the weekend races. According to witness accounts, “el ataque inició cuando un hombre armado disparó contra dos personas que consumían bebidas alcohólicas cerca de una camioneta blanca de lujo. Posteriormente, otro agresor que portaba un rifle abrió fuego contra los asistentes.” The attack started when an armed man fired at two people drinking near a white GMC luxury pickup truck, then a second gunman appeared with a rifle and began shooting indiscriminately at attendees throughout the racing grounds.
Among the targets was a man identified as Benito M., known by the alias “El 084,” who was reportedly consuming beverages inside the white GMC when the assault began. The coordinated nature of the attack suggested the gunmen had specific targets, though multiple bystanders were caught in the crossfire as panic spread through the venue.
As gunfire erupted, dozens of people scattered in different directions seeking safety. Many fled toward mountainous terrain surrounding the track, making rescue and recovery efforts challenging for authorities. Emergency responders continued searching the area for additional victims, as some injured individuals may have escaped into remote locations before collapsing.
The Hidalgo del Parral municipal government issued warnings through social media urging citizens to avoid the Parral-Jimenez highway. Following the attack, the assailants stole three tractor trailers and positioned them across the roadway to create blockades, effectively trapping motorists and preventing pursuit by security forces. La Jornada reported that “los agresores robaron tres tractocamiones y los atravesaron afuera del carril de carreras de caballos, para huir e impedir una persecución.” The barricades were established between kilometers three and four of the highway, in an area known as La Puerta del Tiempo.
Municipal Public Security Directorate personnel, along with National Guard elements and State Attorney General Office investigators, deployed to secure the scene. The joint operation aimed to clear the roadway, locate victims, and gather evidence while maintaining public safety in the volatile situation.
Authorities later identified six of the seven victims killed at the Santa Teresa track. They were: Alejandro Antonio A.G., 33; Paul Yovani A.L., 29; Jose Eduardo M.C., 23; Osvaldo Alonso S.B., 21; David Abraham S.T., 25; and Jesus Jose N.V., 35. Forensic anthropology examinations subsequently confirmed the identity of the seventh victim as Rosario B.M., 41, who resided in Lopez, Chihuahua, and was originally from Puebla state.
An eighth victim, discovered near La Puerta del Tiempo, was identified as Jaime Guillermo C.A., 33, from the city of Jimenez. The discovery of this additional body raised questions about whether more victims might be found in the surrounding terrain as search operations continued.
The Santa Teresa track is owned by brothers Arturo and Augusto Medina. Augusto Medina serves as coordinator of PRI party legislators in the state, adding political dimensions to the violence. Horse racing tracks in rural Mexico often serve as social gathering places where business dealings occur alongside sporting events, though such venues occasionally become sites of cartel-related violence.
Benito M. had previous connections to violence in the region. He was reportedly linked to an earlier massacre at the Carril de Carreras de Maturana, where four people reportedly died, including a minor. This history suggests the Saturday attack may represent continuing disputes between criminal organizations operating in southern Chihuahua.
Parral Mayor Salvador Calderon’s administration coordinated the emergency response, working with state and federal agencies to restore order. The security deployment involved establishing checkpoints at all major highway access points around Parral to prevent further violence and locate suspects.
The State Attorney General Office indicated investigations would continue to determine the full circumstances surrounding the deaths and identify those responsible for the attack. Prosecutors are working to establish whether the violence stemmed from territorial disputes, personal vendettas, or other criminal motives common in regions affected by organized crime.
The incident highlights ongoing security challenges in Chihuahua’s southern municipalities, where remote locations and limited law enforcement presence can enable criminal activity. Horse racing events, which draw large crowds and involve significant cash transactions, have occasionally attracted criminal interest throughout northern Mexico.
Authorities maintained their presence in the area for several days following the attack, conducting forensic examinations and interviewing witnesses. The roadblocks were eventually cleared, allowing traffic to resume on the Parral-Jimenez highway, though residents remained cautious about traveling through the affected zone.
