Eight fatalities reported in a mass shooting within a cartel-affected area of central Mexico

MEXICO CITY — A tragic incident in north-central Mexico resulted in the deaths of eight individuals and left two others injured after assailants opened fire at a roadside food stand, as reported by local authorities on Sunday.

The shooting took place late Saturday night in the town of Apaseo el Grande, located in the violence-stricken state of Guanajuato. Prosecutors revealed that eight men lost their lives outside the stand, which was known for selling a traditional milk-based fudge. Additionally, a man and a woman sustained injuries during the incident, though their medical statuses have not been disclosed at this time.

Reports from local news outlets indicated that among the deceased was a paramedic. The state-run ambulance service confirmed that one of its emergency medical technicians died during the incident but did not specify if this individual was among those killed at the scene.
Footage circulating on social media depicted several men’s bodies, with visible head wounds, sprawled across the ground near motorcycles that were parked outside the food stand.

Apaseo el Grande and its nearby counterpart, Apaseo el Alto, have been vulnerable to mass shooting incidents in recent years, which experts attribute to ongoing conflicts between rival drug cartels. The region has seen a troubling number of mass shootings at various venues, including bars and businesses, dating back to at least 2018.

Guanajuato, a crucial industrial and agricultural area, has consistently reported the highest homicide rate among Mexico’s 32 states. The ongoing struggle for control between the Jalisco cartel and the local Santa Rosa de Lima gang has contributed to the violence that plagues this region.