In a devastating event that has sent shockwaves through the local community, seven young individuals were shot dead during a religious festivity organized by the Catholic Church in San Bartolo de Berrios, located in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato. The attack transpired in the early hours of Monday as gunmen arrived at the village's central square and unleashed a barrage of gunfire, striking at random towards those lingering post-event.
Eyewitness accounts reveal chaos as the gunmen reportedly fired dozens of shots, leaving the once-celebratory atmosphere marred by violence. Authorities are still investigating the motive behind this cold-blooded attack, but evidence points towards the involvement of the Santa Rosa de Lima drug cartel. Disturbing messages were discovered on signs across various locations in the vicinity, indicating a potential cartel motive.
Historically, such brutal violence, while commonplace in nightclubs, bars, and arenas across Mexico, stands out sharply when it occurs at a religious gathering. The Episcopal Conference of Mexico, representing the nation's bishops, expressed their condemnation, emphasizing their inability to remain passive amid a rising tide of violence that devastates communities.
The archbishop of the region, Jaime Calderón, attributed the violence to territorial disputes among rival crime syndicates. Guanajuato has surged as a hotspot for crime, recording the highest murder rates in Mexico, with 2,597 homicides in 2024 alone. The ongoing clash between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel represents a broader struggle for control over lucrative territories.
These gangs engage in various illegal operations, including extortion and drug trafficking, but have increasingly shown interest in stealing fuel from pipelines, a practice known as huachicoleo. The revenue gained from these illicit activities perpetuates their violent tactics, which include instilling fear in local populations to maintain control and silence.
Residents of San Bartolo de Berrios recounted a harrowing experience, noting that they heard nearly 100 gunshots within minutes, leaving the central square resembling a "bloodbath" with the fallen bodies of the youths, two of whom were under 18 years old. As the search for justice begins, no arrests have yet been made, leaving the community in a state of fear and mourning over the tragic loss of life amid the ongoing struggle against cartel violence.
Eyewitness accounts reveal chaos as the gunmen reportedly fired dozens of shots, leaving the once-celebratory atmosphere marred by violence. Authorities are still investigating the motive behind this cold-blooded attack, but evidence points towards the involvement of the Santa Rosa de Lima drug cartel. Disturbing messages were discovered on signs across various locations in the vicinity, indicating a potential cartel motive.
Historically, such brutal violence, while commonplace in nightclubs, bars, and arenas across Mexico, stands out sharply when it occurs at a religious gathering. The Episcopal Conference of Mexico, representing the nation's bishops, expressed their condemnation, emphasizing their inability to remain passive amid a rising tide of violence that devastates communities.
The archbishop of the region, Jaime Calderón, attributed the violence to territorial disputes among rival crime syndicates. Guanajuato has surged as a hotspot for crime, recording the highest murder rates in Mexico, with 2,597 homicides in 2024 alone. The ongoing clash between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel represents a broader struggle for control over lucrative territories.
These gangs engage in various illegal operations, including extortion and drug trafficking, but have increasingly shown interest in stealing fuel from pipelines, a practice known as huachicoleo. The revenue gained from these illicit activities perpetuates their violent tactics, which include instilling fear in local populations to maintain control and silence.
Residents of San Bartolo de Berrios recounted a harrowing experience, noting that they heard nearly 100 gunshots within minutes, leaving the central square resembling a "bloodbath" with the fallen bodies of the youths, two of whom were under 18 years old. As the search for justice begins, no arrests have yet been made, leaving the community in a state of fear and mourning over the tragic loss of life amid the ongoing struggle against cartel violence.
