Tragedy in Mexico: Soccer field shooting leaves at least 11 dead in Salamanca

At least 11 people were killed and 12 others wounded Sunday after heavily armed gunmen opened fire on a soccer field in Salamanca, in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato, according to local authorities. The attackers fired indiscriminately at civilians who were gathered to watch and play a local match.

The shooting took place at the Campos de las Cabañas soccer field, located in the Loma de Flores community in northern Salamanca. Ten people died at the scene, and an 11th later died at a hospital, municipal officials said in a statement. The motive for the attack remains unclear. The violence unfolded shortly before 5:30 p.m. local time, while a game was underway.

Witnesses describe chaos and terror

Witnesses told authorities that the assailants arrived in several pickup trucks, opened fire with high-powered weapons, and fled at high speed. Investigators recovered more than 100 spent shell casings at the scene. Survivors described moments of panic and terror as players and spectators tried to escape the gunfire.

Authorities said the attack appears to be linked to ongoing turf wars between criminal groups fighting for control of the area, a pattern that has plagued parts of Guanajuato in recent years.

Authorities condemn the violence

“The Municipal Government of Salamanca strongly condemns the events that have occurred in recent days in the municipality and the state, including the attack that took place Sunday afternoon in the community of Loma de Flores, where people were gathered at a soccer field,” the city government said in its statement.

The statement added: “Salamanca expresses its deepest solidarity with the families and individuals affected by these acts and reaffirms its commitment to stand by them and to work continuously for the security and peace of our community.”

A region long scarred by organized crime

Salamanca sits in a region marked by persistent conflict between drug trafficking organizations and fuel theft gangs, driven in part by the presence of a state-owned Pemex oil refinery. The city and surrounding areas have endured years of high levels of violence, often tied to street-level drug sales, particularly methamphetamine and marijuana.

Despite that history, federal data show that homicides nationwide have dropped by 41% since President Claudia Sheinbaum took office, though episodes like Sunday’s attack underscore the ongoing security challenges facing parts of the country.

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