Gun Attack in Mexico City’s Tláhuac Leaves Five Dead, One Injured

A mass shooting in Mexico City’s Tláhuac district has left five people dead and another critically injured. The attack occurred just after midnight in the neighborhood of San Miguel, Mixquic, an area well known for its Day of the Dead celebrations.

According to police reports, the victims were gathered on a street drinking beer when armed assailants arrived in a white Toyota Tacoma. Several gunmen exited the vehicle, armed with both handguns and rifles, and opened fire without warning.

The brutality of the attack has shocked residents, as such incidents are rare in Mexico City, a capital that has historically maintained lower homicide rates compared to other regions of the country.

The Attack: What We Know So Far

• Time and Location: The shooting happened at 12:58 AM in the San Miguel neighborhood of Mixquic, Tláhuac.
• Victims: Five people killed on-site (three men and two women, aged 21 to 37).
• Survivor: A 20-year-old man with multiple gunshot wounds was taken to the hospital.
• Attackers: Several armed individuals arrived in a white Toyota Tacoma, opened fire, and fled the scene.

The surviving victim told police that the attackers never spoke before firing indiscriminately.

Rising Violence in Mexico City: A Shift in Crime Trends?

While mass shootings are rare in Mexico City, authorities are facing a noticeable rise in homicides.

In 2022 and 2023, the city reported its lowest homicide rates in recent history, with 747 and 658 murders, respectively, according to INEGI (National Institute of Statistics and Geography). However, in 2024, the trend reversed, with 986 homicides recorded, marking the highest number since 2021, based on figures from the National Public Security System.

Why Is Violence Increasing?

• Criminal factions in flux – Tláhuac was once a stronghold for organized crime, particularly the now-disbanded Tláhuac Cartel. While its leadership was dismantled, new groups may be trying to assert dominance.
• Increased drug enforcement – In December 2023, authorities conducted anti-narcotics raids, arresting 25 suspects in Tláhuac and surrounding areas. Retaliation from organized crime groups could be a factor.
• Targeted or random attack? – Police are investigating whether the San Miguel shooting was a planned hit on specific individuals or an escalation of local turf wars.

Authorities Respond: Investigation Underway

As of Monday afternoon, the Mexico City Attorney General’s Office had not yet released details on possible suspects or motives. However, authorities have confirmed that:

Forensic teams are analyzing ballistic evidence at the scene.
Surveillance footage from nearby streets is being reviewed.
Police are interviewing witnesses and associates of the victims.

Authorities hope that the surviving victim may provide key testimony that helps identify the attackers.

Tláhuac’s Crime Landscape: An Ongoing Challenge

Tláhuac, while not among Mexico City’s most violent districts, has experienced sporadic criminal activity linked to organized crime.

Notable recent incidents include:

• A shooting at a taquería earlier this month, where two people were killed.
• A body found in a lake separating Tláhuac from Chalco, in the State of Mexico.
• Reports of increased extortion and drug activity in the borough.

Local residents fear a resurgence of criminal violence, prompting calls for increased police presence and greater intelligence operations to prevent further attacks.

What’s Next for Mexico City’s Security Strategy?

The Mexico City government has taken steps to address the rise in violence, including:

• Deploying additional police patrols in high-risk areas.
• Increasing intelligence operations to disrupt criminal networks.
• Strengthening collaboration between city and federal authorities.

However, questions remain about whether these measures will be enough to curb growing violence and prevent future mass shootings.

A City at a Crossroads

The Tláhuac shooting is a stark reminder that even Mexico’s capital, once considered relatively insulated from cartel violence, is not immune to rising crime trends.

As investigations continue, families of the victims, residents, and policymakers alike will demand accountability, security improvements, and justice.Will authorities crack down on organized crime in Tláhuac, or is this attack a sign of worsening insecurity in Mexico City? The coming weeks will provide answers.