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In a press release, the Attorney General (FGE) confirmed that 2 people were killed and 1 other was injured during the shooting that took place recently near Cancun at a beach in Puerto Morelos.
Shortly after 2:00 pm on November 4th, 2021, on a beach in Puerto Morelos, a group of armed individuals opened gunfire which left tourists and Hyatt hotel staff members fleeing for safety. Local authorities have reported that this shooting took place between drug-gang rivals, leaving 2 men dead and 1 tourist injured. Although the FGE has a good idea of what happened, a thorough investigation of this awful situation is still underway.
Preliminary Information
The FGE so far has stated that on Thursday (11/04) around 11:30 am, a group of approximately 5 people arrived at the beach in Petempich Bay of Puerto Morelos. Two of these men stuck around, and it is suspected that they arrived to control drug sales in the area. Shortly after 2:00 pm, a group of 15 people allegedly armed with long-barreled guns approached these two men and that’s when the chaos broke out.
One of the men fled and was found dead down the beach, while the other attempted to seek shelter in one of the hotels, but he was captured and then also found dead.
One tourist was hit in the back with the butt-end of a gun and suffered from minor injuries. He was transported and treated at the hospital for the injuries he sustained.
Statements from Governor Carlos Joaquín
During a briefing in regards to this situation, Governor Carlos Joaquín assured that all corporations of the Quintana Roo police are investigating the events leading to the death of the two men, and that supports have been put in place at the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Hotel to get everyone situated and operations back in order. He also expressed how acts of violence from an organized crime group like this put’s a bad light on the region, which then creates negative stress on their economy when tourists don’t feel safe to travel to their state. It brings forth another delicate layer of care and attention needed to ensure the safety of the state, including the visitors.
“A crime group that attacked another opposing group puts the image of the state at risk,” he said.
A call-out to hotels and tourism service providers in the area
The president of the Security Commission in the 16th legislature, Fernando Chávez Zepeda has also spoken out about the crime that has been going on. He sends a call-out to all hotels and tourism service providers in the area to agree to connect their surveillance to ‘the C5 of Cancun’ to reinforce the surveillance of the beach areas. (The C5 is the Command, Control, Computing, Communications, and Citizen Contact Center of Cancun)
Zepeda pointed out that the take-over for drug sales in the area was detected shortly after 11 am, just under 3 hours before the shooting broke out. He made a very passionate call out to authorities of the municipal, state, and federal governments to pay closer attention to the situations at hand.
“With situations such as those that occurred in Puerto Morelos and recently in Tulum, due to the fierce and ruthless fight between criminal gangs dedicated to the sale and distribution of drugs on the beaches, these situations have left tourism and economic reactivation in the area hang by a thread,” he said.
A statement from the US Embassy & Consulates in Mexico
On November 4th a statement was made by the US Embassy & Consulates in Mexico stating that they were aware of the shooting incident and that Mexican authorities were responding to the situation, as well as suggested that U.S. citizens that are in the area should “contact concerned family and/or friends to let them know they are safe.”
The following action steps were also given directly from the US Embassy that day:
- “Be aware of your surroundings.
- Monitor the local news for updates, follow directions from local officials, and in case of emergency, call 911.
- Avoid crowds.
- Review your personal security plans.
- Contact the U.S. Consulate or Embassy if you need assistance.”
U.S. Embassy & Consulate phone numbers:
- From Mexico: (55) 8526 2561
- From the United States: 1-844-528-6611
The President and local authorities are committed to doing what it takes to lower the recent surge in crime rates and preserve the Riviera Maya’s reputation for being a safe place to travel in the Mexican Caribbean.
Scary things can happen no matter where you travel to in the world. It is always important to be aware of your surroundings and have an idea of what to do if you find yourself in a scary situation. Here are a couple of small tips for travelers to consider when traveling.
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