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A festival celebrating the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist ended in bloodshed as ten were gunned down and more were injured in a mass shooting.
Among the injured is a 2-year-old boy, reportedly shot in the eye after ‘armed individuals’ opened fire on the community celebration in San Juan, Mexico.
Around 11.20 pm, gunfire erupted on Bustamante Street, where locals were eating and dancing to mark the holiday.
The violence was livestreamed on Facebook, with footage showing men, women and families screaming as they were shot at point-blank range.
In a local community group for Irapuato, one resident said: ‘This is the first time something like this has happened in Irapuato…’
Belongings of the victims were seen scattered on the pavement, along with bullet casings and blood spatter.
The reason for the shooting is still unknown. Police are searching for the gunmen, who fled the scene.
The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist is celebrated in Mexico on June 24 to mark the birth of the prophet.
It’s a significant holiday for Catholics, and in Mexico, picnics and cookouts are held in the community, along with some water-based events to reflect John’s role in baptising Jesus Christ, to mark the holiday.
Mexico’s murder rates have been decreasing in recent years, but the country still remains dangerous, with a rate of 24.9 murders per 100,000 civilians.
In comparison, the murder rate in Texas is 6.7 homicides per 100,000 people.
Statement from local authorities
In a statement from local authorities issued to Punto y Aparte Radio station, the municipal government said they regret and condemn the attack.
‘As a result of these events, according to preliminary data, 10 people lost their lives and several more were injured by firearms. From the outset, with the participation of personnel from the Secretariat of Citizen Security, the Defence Ministry, the National Guard, and the FSPE (National Police Force), a joint operation was mounted to locate the alleged perpetrators,’ it said.
‘We are working in coordination with personnel from the Guanajuato State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) to provide the necessary information to clarify this incident. At the scene, Municipal Police personnel, through the Comprehensive Victim Assistance Centre (CAIV), provided psychological care, legal advice, and support to the families in filing a complaint with the appropriate authorities to begin the investigation.
‘We know that events like this generate uncertainty among the population, so we reiterate our commitment to the citizens of Irapuato. We will not back down in our mission to restore peace to our city.’
Last year, violence in the country erupted after the Sinaloa Cartel descended into another bloody civil war.
The conflict between the two factions began in July 2024, when ‘legendary’ trafficker and cartel leader Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada was arrested in the United States.
Zambada, who is now 74 years old, has claimed that another senior member of another cartel faction, Los Chapitos, kidnapped him and flew him to the States against his will.
After his arrest, more than 100 were left dead or missing as local communities went into lockdown.
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