By “El Huaso” for Borderland Beat
Authors note: This article has several videos and photos of the aftermath of shootings.
At least three were killed and several more injured after gunmen opened fire on targets in two separate events on the Caleta and Dominguillo beaches of Acapulco, Guerrero yesterday afternoon. At least two of the mortal victims were reported as local tourism workers.
El Debate reported that the first shooting occurred on the Dominguillo beach at 1:54 p.m., when a young man was gravely injured with a gunshot to the head. The injured man was found by tourists and was taken to a hospital by first responders.
Later, around 6:00 p.m., two tourism workers was shot and killed by gunmen on the Caleta beach, just by a National Guard post. At least four others were injured in this shooting, likely by stray bullets. Video of this attacks shows a man weeping and clutching one the victims bloody corpse, while other man, likely also a tourism worker according to El Sol de Acapulco, was taken to the hospital alive, but died of his injuries.
There is no official death and injury toll yet. The number of casualties reported by local press varies.
This is the week before Easter Sunday, known as Semana Santa (Holy Week), in Mexico. Public schools are on breaks, and many Mexicans take days off from work in order to celebrate, with many vacationing in tourist sites such as Acapulco.
Acapulco is a popular tourist destination on the Western coast of Mexico. Once comparable to Cancun in terms of visitation, violence in the early 2010s frightened off tourists and forced many businesses to shutter their doors. The coastal city has struggled to shed its violent reputation since. The state of Guerrero is the 8th most violent state of Mexico by homicide count this year, with 273.
It is unclear what the motives behind the attacks were, but two of the victims are reported by local press as being local tourism workers. This may suggest this attack was linked to criminal group pressure on businesses, such as extortion.
Local news site Sur Acapulco reported that four attackers were detained by police for the attacks. They were arrested on the Costera Miguel Alemán avenue, in front of the Port Authority offices, reported El Sol de Acapulco. The Guerrero State Attorney General’s Office is investigating the shootings.
Sources: Sur Acapulco, El Debate, La Verdad de Noticias, El Sol de Acapulco, Informe de seguridad marzo 2023
Photos and Videos: @CMF_GlobalRisk, @Jonatan93294410, @Jonatan93294410 2, @contrapuntodd