CANCUN, MEXICO – A grim scene unfolded on Wednesday near a luxurious Cancun resort, as a Mexican national was fatally shot in a brazen midday attack. According to reports, the assailants made their escape on jet skis as shocked tourists took shelter inside the nearby Riu Caribe resort.
Local authorities believe the horrifying incident, which took place around noon, was a premeditated attack. At least two armed individuals targeted the man, who is said to be in his 30s, firing multiple shots before fleeing the scene on jet skis.
The identity of the deceased victim has not been released. The Riu Caribe hotel, a five-star establishment where room rates can reach up to $350 a night, confirmed that the man was not a guest or employee.
This incident may be linked to an earlier violent episode in Cancun. This summer, a 12-year-old was killed in a brazen daylight shooting when gunmen on jet skis targeted a rival drug dealer on a beach, and the child became an accidental casualty. Prosecutors now suspect that Wednesday’s victim might have been connected to that earlier incident.
Such instances of violent crime are not uncommon in Mexico. The US State Department has advised Americans to exercise caution when visiting the country due to the prevalence of crimes such as “homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery.”