Cancun, Quintana Roo – A tragic incident unfolded on Sunday, July 28, when a 12-year-old boy was fatally shot on a beach in Cancun. The shooting, which authorities attribute to a dispute between drug dealing gangs, took place near the Riu Hotel, a popular area for tourists.
The victim, identified as Santiago, was with his family enjoying the beach around 3:00 p.m. when the peaceful afternoon took a horrifying turn. According to preliminary investigations, armed men arrived at the beach on jet skis with the intention of targeting a rival. In the chaos that ensued, one of the bullets struck Santiago in the chest.
Eyewitnesses reported that the beachgoers were thrown into a state of panic, and many quickly alerted authorities. The Tourist Police and the National Guard responded promptly, arriving at the scene within minutes. Despite the swift response, the assailants managed to flee, and the intended target also escaped.
Private paramedics were on hand to provide immediate medical attention to Santiago. Despite their best efforts, the boy’s injuries were severe. He was transported to a hospital of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) in downtown Cancun, but tragically, he did not survive the journey.
The Attorney General’s Office of the State of Quintana Roo (FGE) confirmed that the attackers’ likely motive was to confront rivals over drug sales in the area. Unfortunately, Santiago became an unintended victim in this violent confrontation.
Following the incident, the beach area was cordoned off by security forces to allow Forensic Services to process the crime scene. The Quintana Roo Prosecutor’s Office issued a statement later in the day, emphasizing that the initial investigations suggest the attackers arrived by sea and their intended targets were involved in a drug-related dispute.
The authorities have confirmed that Santiago’s family, who reside in Cancun, are of Mexican nationality. As of now, no arrests have been made. However, the FGE, in collaboration with the Coordination for the Construction of Peace and Security in Quintana Roo, is actively working to identify and apprehend those responsible for this tragic event.
This incident highlights the escalating violence in the state of Quintana Roo. According to the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System (SESNSP), there have been 776 homicides recorded in the state up to June of this year, with 301 of those involving firearms.
