An armed clash between criminal groups in the Mexican town of Ensenada resulted in ten deaths and nine injuries during a rally, according to authorities. Masked men descended from a van on Saturday afternoon and opened fire on amateur drivers who had stopped on the side of the road before fleeing the scene.
According to the state prosecutor of Baja California, Ricardo Iván Carpio, who issued a statement on Sunday, an abandoned vehicle was found at the incident site, which was believed to have been used by the attackers and had at least three bullet impacts and bloodstains inside. It is estimated that two cars were used in the attack.
“With these new findings, we can determine that this incident is due to a confrontation between alleged criminals who exchanged gunfire at the event,” stated the prosecutor, as quoted in the statement.
The Prosecutor’s Office reported that some individuals on the drivers’ side managed to repel the aggression. Therefore, the investigations will focus on determining the origin and motive of the confrontation between the suspected organized crime groups.
Security in the area was reinforced with troops from the Army, Navy, and state police.
The massacre occurred while participating motorists in an adventure caravan were parked alongside a highway, and a group of men descended from a van and opened fire on them.
The Ensenada government reported in a statement that the attack resulted in nine injured and ten deceased individuals.
Videos posted on social media show the bloodied bodies of some drivers next to their off-road vehicles on a dusty trail. One of the drivers, still wearing a helmet, is seen lying on the door of his vehicle, and security personnel can be seen arriving.
The Baja California Prosecutor’s Office has formed a “special investigation group” to identify the assailants and determine the motives behind the massacre.
Some of the injured received emergency care from local Red Cross paramedics, who later transferred them to hospitals in the urban center of Ensenada, a municipality with a population of approximately 440,000.
Baja California is known for hosting off-road vehicle races due to its desert terrain. One of the most famous races is the “Baja 1000,” which features cars, motorcycles, and ATVs. The event on Saturday, known as “El Cachanillazo Ensenada,” was celebrating its fifth edition.
Baja California is also one of the Mexican states with the highest number of intentional homicides, most of which are attributed by the government to wars between organized crime gangs. Official data indicates that there were 721 homicides in the region between January and April of this year.