Mexico Shooting Leaves 24 Dead At Rehabilitation Center, Drug Cartels’ Involvement Suspected

In a mass shooting incident reported from Irapuato city of central Mexico, at least 24 people were killed and seven injured after gunmen opened fire at an unregistered drug rehabilitation center on Wednesday (July 1).

According to the state police, three out of the seven injured were reported to be in critical condition. The unknown gunmen shot at almost everybody in the rehab and no one has been abducted.

With what little was seen from the photos shared by the state police to the local reporters, at least 11 people were seen lying on the ground in a pool of blood, and relatives of the victims were gathered around the rehab center.

The motive behind the shooting is unclear. However, Gov. Diego Sinhue reported the involvement of drug gangs in the incident, and requested a joint effort from the federal and state authorities to tackle such incidents.

“I deeply regret and condemn the events in Irapuato this afternoon,” Sinhue tweeted. “The violence generated by organized crime not only takes the lives of the young, but it takes the peace from families in Guanajuato.”

Guanajuato's Attorney General Carlos Zamarripa called the incident a "cowardly criminal act”. A special investigation team has been designated to investigate the shooting.

Wednesday’s incident underlines President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's failure to stand by his pledge of stopping gang-fueled violence. Obrador took office in December 2018, and promised to curb the violence afflicting Mexico. However, the homicide cases hit a record level in 2019 and seemed to be no different this year. Reports said the mass slaying is the second such incident reported in the city in two months.

Another similar shooting incident was reported June 6, when unidentified gunmen shot at a different rehab center in Irapuato that resulted in the deaths of 10 men. Reports said drug cartels have been targeting the rehabs in an attempt to gain control over the drug business.

Guanajuato has been the hub of criminal violence and gang wars between drug cartels. According to the Mexican Peace Index results of 2020, Guanajuato reported a total of 4,645 homicide cases last year.