Two shootings leave at least 16 people dead in Mexico

The advent of the Christmas holidays in Mexico have been marred by crime. The Attorney General's Office, of the state of Guanajuato, reported that at least 16 people were murdered during the start of the traditional festivities in the cities of Salvatierra and Salamanca.

"The Guanajuato Prosecutor's Office condemns the events recorded this morning in the cities of Salvatierra where so far 12 people have been reported dead, and in Salamanca 4 people have been reported dead," the Prosecutor's Office wrote on its X account (formerly Twitter).

Likewise, the authorities explained that they are investigating the events and that they hope to provide details about what happened in the coming hours. "In both cases, multidisciplinary teams specializing in homicides have been assigned, they will work immediately and permanently until the clarification and arrest of those responsible is achieved," said the prosecutor's office.

The capture of criminals

Meanwhile, the Secretary of Government of Guanajuato, Jesús Oviedo, lamented the 12 deaths recorded in Salvatierra and explained that he remains in communication with local authorities to investigate what happened and confront crime in the state.

"I have contacted the municipality of Salvatierra to coordinate operations with the different levels of Government to assist with the Prosecutor's Office in the capture of those responsible," Oviedo said on his X account (formerly Twitter).

The local media have described what happened in Salvatierra as a massacre and explained that it was a private party in which a group of criminals arrived and started shooting at the guests. Likewise, newspaper outlet El Universal, indicated that during the altercation a large number of shell casings were reported at the scene. There were also several injured people at the scene who were taken to the hospital.

"The inn took place in the former Hacienda San José del Carmen, in the municipality of Salvatierra, in Guanajuato (Mexico), when armed men began to shoot at the people present, in addition to setting fire to some vehicles," reported El Universal.