NEW DELHI: A joyful religious celebration in Mexico’s violence-stricken state of Guanajuato turned into a bloodbath late Tuesday, as gunmen opened fire on a crowd gathered for the Nativity of St. John the Baptist festival. At least 11 people were killed, including a minor, and more than 20 were injured, according to official sources.
The attack occurred in the Barrio Nuevo neighborhood of Irapuato, a city that has become one of the epicenters of cartel violence in Mexico. Families and residents had gathered in the central plaza to enjoy traditional dances, music, and fireworks when gunfire erupted around 8:00 PM local time, sending people fleeing in all directions.
“People screamed and ran everywhere. I saw a man fall just meters away from me. Others were dragging their loved ones, trying to stop the bleeding,” said a local vendor who witnessed the chaos.
Videos shared on social media showed families ducking for cover while shots rang out in the background. Children could be heard crying as the gunmen—believed to be part of an organized crime group—sprayed bullets indiscriminately. Several wounded individuals were rushed to nearby hospitals in private vehicles due to the immediate panic and lack of emergency response.
Among the deceased were eight men, two women, and a 17-year-old boy, according to the Guanajuato State Attorney General’s Office. The condition of several of the wounded remains critical.
In a statement released early Wednesday morning, the Municipality of Irapuato condemned the attack, calling it a “cowardly and brutal act of violence against innocent civilians.” The city government has activated emergency protocols and is providing psychological counseling to affected families.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed outrage and sorrow, stating, “We stand with the people of Irapuato. Such violence, especially during a time of faith and festivity, is deplorable. Justice will be served.”
Guanajuato Governor Libia Dennise García Muñoz Ledo also offered condolences and assured that a special task force has been deployed to identify and apprehend those responsible.
While no group has claimed responsibility for the massacre, officials believe the attack may be linked to ongoing turf wars between rival drug cartels operating in Guanajuato, particularly the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
Guanajuato, a region once known for its colonial beauty and growing industrial sector, has now become Mexico’s most violent state. In 2024 alone, the state registered over 3,000 homicides, and 1,400 murders have already been recorded in the first half of 2025, according to government data.
This latest incident marks the second major massacre in the region in less than two months. In May, seven people were gunned down during a church service in the nearby town of San Bartolo de Berrios.
Community in shock, fear grips region
Local churches and schools remained closed on Wednesday as residents mourned the loss of their neighbors and grappled with the fear of future attacks. Civil society groups and human rights organizations have demanded stronger action from the federal government, criticizing the current administration’s strategy of "hugs, not bullets" as ineffective.“We no longer feel safe even in the house of God,” said Father Miguel Álvarez of a nearby parish. “These criminals don’t fear anything—not laws, not life, not faith.”