Eight men were killed during an armed attack at a horse race in southern Chihuahua on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, authorities confirmed. The violence erupted at the Carril Santa Teresa track, located at kilometer four of the Parral–Jiménez highway in the municipality of Hidalgo del Parral.
The attack unfolded during a horse racing event when gunmen opened fire on attendees at the track. The primary target was a man identified as Benito M., also known as Benito N. or “El 084,” who was drinking beer at a white GMC truck when the assault began. After the initial shots, attackers armed with assault rifles continued firing at other men present at the scene.
The sudden outbreak of violence sent attendees fleeing in panic, with many running toward nearby hills to escape the gunfire. As chaos spread across the track, some victims who attempted to seek safety in the surrounding mountainous terrain were later found dead. Between three and four people sustained injuries and were transported to area hospitals in critical condition.
Following the attack, the assailants stole three semi-trucks and positioned them across the Parral–Jiménez highway to block traffic and impede any pursuit by law enforcement. The roadblocks at kilometers 3 and 4 of the highway left dozens of motorists stranded. Municipal police advised the public to avoid the Parral–Jiménez road until further notice due to the presence of armed groups and ongoing security operations.
The Municipal Police of Parral, along with elements from the Guardia Nacional and the Fiscalía General del Estado (State Attorney General’s Office), quickly secured the area and began preliminary investigations. Stranded motorists were instructed to take shelter in facilities belonging to the State Attorney General’s Office amid concerns about potential additional violence. The municipal government issued a statement saying, “Se reporta violento enfrentamiento en Parral, Chihuahua” (“Violent confrontation reported in Parral, Chihuahua”), as the emergency response unfolded.
Authorities identified the victims on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. Six of the eight deceased from the track were named as Alejandro Antonio A.G., 33; Paul Yovani A.L., 29; José Eduardo M.C., 23; Osvaldo Alonso S.B., 21; David Abraham S.T., 25; and Jesús José N.V., 35. Through forensic anthropology testing, officials later established the identity of the seventh victim as Rosario B.M., 41, a resident of the municipality of López, Chihuahua, originally from the state of Puebla.
An eighth victim was discovered in the vicinity of an area known as La Puerta del Tiempo. That individual was identified as Jaime Guillermo C.A., 33, originally from Jiménez.
The Carril Santa Teresa is owned by Arturo and Augusto Medina, with Augusto Medina serving as the mayor of the Balleza municipality. Horse racing tracks are popular venues in northern Mexico for both sporting events and social gatherings, often drawing large crowds on weekends. These informal racing circuits, known as “carriles,” operate throughout rural areas where horse racing maintains deep cultural significance.
Investigators revealed that Benito, the apparent primary target, had connections to a previous massacre at the Carril de Carreras de Maturana. That earlier attack resulted in four deaths, including a minor. The link between the two incidents suggests ongoing conflicts in the region, though authorities have not officially confirmed the motives behind either attack. While no criminal group has been publicly named in connection with the Carril Santa Teresa shooting, security analysts note that the Parral–Jiménez corridor lies within a region affected by ongoing disputes between organized crime groups competing for control of transportation routes in southern Chihuahua, a factor that has contributed to repeated attacks at public venues in recent years.
Mayor Salvador Calderón deployed a comprehensive security operation throughout all highway access points to Parral following the violence. The municipal government urged residents to exercise extreme caution and cooperate with security forces as investigations continued. The coordinated response involved municipal, state, and federal law enforcement agencies working to restore order and pursue those responsible.
The State Attorney General’s Office stated that investigations continue to clarify the circumstances surrounding the deaths and to pursue criminal charges against those responsible. Officials have not released information about suspects or arrests related to the weekend violence. In the weeks following the attack, state and federal authorities maintained reinforced patrols along the Parral–Jiménez highway and in surrounding rural communities, expanding checkpoints and continuing forensic and ballistic analysis of evidence recovered at the scene. Despite the increased security presence, authorities have acknowledged that no suspects have been apprehended.
On November 24, it was reported that the Mexican government had sent 600 soldiers into Chihuahua to stabilize the region amid its cartel turf wars.
The attack represents one of the more significant outbreaks of violence in the Parral region in recent months. Hidalgo del Parral, located in southern Chihuahua, is a historic mining city that has periodically experienced security challenges. The community of approximately 110,000 residents sits along key transportation routes in the region.
Authorities have maintained a heightened security presence throughout the area while forensic teams completed their examination of the crime scene. The highway blockades were eventually cleared, allowing traffic to resume, though law enforcement continued monitoring the routes. As of early 2026, the Fiscalía General del Estado has confirmed that the case remains open, with no arrests announced and no official determination of motive. Officials have continued to appeal to anyone with information about the attack to come forward to assist in the ongoing investigation.
