Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum decries taking pictures at Irapuato pageant as ‘deplorable’ and guarantees investigation.
A gun assault throughout a spiritual celebration in central Mexico has left 11 folks lifeless and at the very least 20 others injured in violence-plagued Guanajuato state, native officers have confirmed.
The taking pictures erupted Tuesday evening within the metropolis of Irapuato, authorities stated on Wednesday, throughout festivities marking the Nativity of John the Baptist. Witnesses described horrible scenes of panic and chaos as partygoers fled the gunfire.
“It was chaos. Individuals put the wounded into their automobiles and rushed to hospital to attempt to save them,” one witness advised the information company AFP, talking anonymously on account of security issues.
Footage shared on-line reveals the second gunfire rang out as folks danced and celebrated. Screams will be heard as the gang scattered in panic.
Bloodstains and bullet holes have been nonetheless seen on the scene on Wednesday morning. Among the many lifeless have been a 17-year-old, eight males, and two girls, in response to the Guanajuato state prosecutor’s workplace.
In a press release, Irapuato’s native authorities known as the assault a “cowardly act” and stated safety forces are looking these accountable. Psychological help is being supplied to affected households.
A person cleans stains of blood after a taking pictures on the Barrio Nuevo neighbourhood in Irapuato, Guanajuato state, Mexico, on June 25, 2025 (Mario Armas/ AFP)
President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the assault as “deplorable” and stated an investigation had been launched. At her every day information convention, Sheinbaum referred to the taking pictures as a “confrontation”, with out elaborating on particulars.
Guanajuato Governor Libia Dennise additionally denounced the assault, providing condolences to the victims’ households and pledging justice.
Whereas Guanajuato is understood for its industrial development and colonial-era tourism hubs, it has notoriously change into famend as Mexico’s most violent state in recent times.
Authorities blame a lot of the bloodshed on an ongoing turf conflict between the Santa Rosa de Lima gang and the highly effective Jalisco New Technology cartel.
Authorities figures present Guanajuato recorded greater than 3,000 homicides final 12 months — the best within the nation.
Since Mexico launched its so-called conflict on medicine in 2006, greater than 480,000 folks have been killed in felony violence, with greater than 120,000 listed as lacking.