Gunmen open fire in Mexico bar to kill target, leave six dead and 10 wounded

Six people were killed and 10 others wounded early Sunday (November 24) in a shooting at a bar in Villahermosa, the capital of the southeastern Mexican state of Tabasco, local authorities said.

Gunmen entered the venue, known as “DBar,” and opened fire while apparently targeting a specific individual, state Deputy Prosecutor Gilberto Melquiades said during a press conference. Bystanders were caught in the crossfire, he said, adding that an investigation is ongoing.

Five victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while one died after being transported to a hospital. Five of the injured have been identified, according to officials.

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Similar attacks in Mexico

The attack comes two weeks after a similar incident in the central Mexican city of Queretaro, where 10 people were killed and seven wounded in a shooting. Until then, Queretaro had largely been spared from the violence often associated with organized crime in Mexico.

Tabasco, a state known for its oil production facilities, has seen a sharp rise in violence this year. From January to October, there were 715 murders recorded in Tabasco, compared to 253 for all of 2023, according to government statistics.

Federal Public Security Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch said Sunday that President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration is working with local authorities to determine the motive and perpetrators behind the attack.

The shooting underscores the growing violence in parts of Mexico, where bars and other public venues are increasingly targeted in acts of retribution or intimidation linked to criminal groups. Authorities have not yet indicated whether organized crime was involved in the Tabasco attack.

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With inputs from AFP