Mexico Mourns After Gunmen Kill 11 At Soccer Field In Cartel-Hit State

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

MEXICO CITY (Worthy News) – Mexico was mourning Monday after gunmen opened fire at a soccer field in the central city of Salamanca, killing at least 11 people and wounding a dozen others in the latest mass attack linked to organized crime violence.

Authorities said the shooting erupted late Sunday as a local match ended, when armed men arrived and began firing on spectators and players. Ten people died at the scene and one more succumbed to injuries at a hospital, Salamanca Mayor Cesar Prieto said.

A woman and a minor were among the wounded, the mayor added, as families gathered in grief and officials faced renewed pressure to restore security.

The Guanajuato state prosecutor’s office said it was investigating and coordinating with federal authorities to reinforce security in the area.

Prieto described the assault as part of a growing “crime wave” and appealed to President Claudia Sheinbaum for additional support to control violence in the city.

GUANAJUATO EPICENTER OF CARTEL TURF WAR

Guanajuato has recorded Mexico’s highest homicide totals in recent years, driven largely by a violent turf war between the local Santa Rosa de Lima gang and the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

The rivalry has turned parts of the state into one of the country’s deadliest battlegrounds, with frequent attacks on civilians, police, and public venues.

Security forces increased patrols around Salamanca, an industrial hub that is also home to a major Pemex oil refinery, officials said.

Mayor Prieto warned that criminal groups were seeking to intimidate authorities, but vowed they would fail.

“Unfortunately, there are criminal groups trying to subjugate authorities — something they are not going to achieve,” he said.

NATIONAL VIOLENCE REMAINS A MAJOR CHALLENGE

Mexico’s government says the country’s 2025 murder rate fell to its lowest level since 2016, at about 17.5 killings per 100,000 inhabitants.

However, analysts caution that official figures may not fully capture the scale of violence in cartel-dominated regions such as Guanajuato, where communities continue to face deadly insecurity.

Investigations were continuing Monday as authorities sought those responsible and residents demanded justice for the victims of one of the deadliest recent attacks in the state.

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