San Felipe, Mexico — A pre-dawn shooting that left seven people, including minors, dead in the village of San Bartolo de Berrios has underscored the ongoing violence plaguing Guanajuato, Mexico’s deadliest state. The killings occurred around 2:00 a.m. Monday, following a local church event in the central plaza of this small community.
Authorities arrived at the scene to discover seven male bodies alongside a damaged van, and approximately 100 shell casings scattered around the area. Furthermore, they found two banners containing messages linked to the Santa Rosa de Lima gang, signaling the cartel’s influence and territorial assertion in the notorious hotspot for criminal activity.
These banners, often left by cartels to either threaten rivals or enforce their rules, typify the brutal tactics employed in cartel conflicts that have deeply impacted Guanajuato. Known for its industrial significance and as a tourist destination, the state recorded a staggering 2,597 homicides last year, making it the most murderous state in Mexico.
The ongoing strife primarily involves the Santa Rosa de Lima gang and its powerful adversary, the Jalisco New Generation cartel. Their fierce rivalry has transformed the region into a perilous zone where even non-combatants, including children, are frequently endangered.
The Episcopal Conference of Mexico, representing the nation’s Catholic bishops, has voiced its horror at the violence. On the day following the massacre, they issued a statement condemning the act and underlining the recurring nature of such violence across the country. They emphasized the societal decay, impunity, and absence of peace that the community continues to endure.
This recent attack adds to a grim tally of violent incidents in Guanajuato in the past year. Just months prior, a roadside stand assault and a police-confrontation with suspected cartel operatives resulted in multiple fatalities, highlighting the ongoing security crisis.
In response to the rising body count, which includes police officers and civilians alike, the U.S. State Department has updated travel advisories for Americans considering travel to the region, stressing the particularly severe violence in southern parts of the state.
Since a military-led anti-drug initiative launched in 2006, Mexico has seen approximately 480,000 violent deaths. Critics argue that the militarized approach has failed to curb cartel activities and has, instead, exacerbated turf wars among these criminal groups.
Guanajuato’s strategic location, with its extensive network of highways linking major cities and border areas, remains a lucrative route for drug trafficking, fuel theft, and extortion. This has made it a fiercely contested territory among cartels, complicating efforts by law enforcement to bring peace to the region despite increased federal support.
As the community reels from yet another bout of violence, and with cartel influence seemingly unchecked, the path to restoring peace remains fraught with challenges. The ongoing violence not only devastates families but also stunts economic growth and threatens the overall stability of the state and country.