Terrified tourists scrambled for safety as four assassins gunned down a 30-year-old Mexican national outside the luxury five-star Hotel Riu Caribe in Cancun on Wednesday morning.
The incident occurred on the beach just outside the hotel, sending guests running for cover inside the $300-a-night resort lobby as the shots rang out.
According to eyewitness reports, the suspects approached the victim on foot before two of them fled the scene on rented jet skis. The remaining two gunmen escaped on foot. Guests described a scene of panic as beachgoers rushed to take cover, abandoning their belongings in the sand and hurrying back to the safety of the resort lobby.
Footage from the aftermath shows concerned guests gathered in the opulent lobby of the Hotel Riu Caribe, visibly shaken by the ordeal. Some were seen frantically calling loved ones, while others wandered around in shock, awaiting instructions from local authorities.
Riviera Maya News reported that Hotel Riu Caribe has since issued a statement confirming that the victim was not a guest or an employee of their establishment. One of the suspects was spotted running through the beach area of the adjacent Dreams Hotel, with witnesses describing him as wearing dark Bermuda shorts and a black shirt.
Authorities believe the homicide may be linked to drug trafficking and cartel-related violence, which has been a growing concern in the region. The incident has raised questions about the safety of the area’s tourist destinations, which have not been immune to the types of violence and crime seen elsewhere in Mexico.
The U.S. State Department currently lists Mexico at a tier two advisory level, advising tourists to exercise increased caution when traveling to the country. In a recent advisory, they noted that, “While Mexican authorities endeavor to safeguard the country’s major resort areas and tourist destinations, those areas have not been immune to the types of violence and crime experienced elsewhere in Mexico.”
The advisory added that increased cartel-related violence has resulted in territorial disputes and targeted killings, sometimes injuring or killing innocent bystanders. Local law enforcement response times can be slow, and filing police reports can be time-consuming.
This shooting occurred just two months after a tragic incident in July, when a 12-year-old boy named Santiago was killed at Caracol Beach, near the Riu Cancun. Gunmen on jet skis opened fire on rival drug dealers, and Santiago, who was sitting on a beach chair with his family, was struck by multiple stray bullets. Despite paramedics’ efforts to treat him at the scene and transport him to a nearby hospital, the boy succumbed to his injuries.
As local law enforcement investigates the latest shooting, additional security measures are expected to be implemented around the resort areas. Despite these incidents, the region remains a popular destination for international travelers. Visitors are advised to stay informed and exercise caution when visiting the area.
