Thursday, October 3, 2024 In a chilling reminder of the escalating violence affecting some of Mexico’s most popular tourist destinations, tourists at the luxurious Hotel Riu in Cancun were sent into panic on a quiet morning when gunfire erupted outside the resort. Four gunmen , believed to be part of a targeted assassination, fatally shot a 30-year-old Mexican national outside the five-star resort, leaving terrified guests running for cover. The incident has once again raised questions about the safety of visitors in Mexico’s renowned beach destinations.
The attack, which took place in broad daylight, unfolded just outside the $1,000-a-night resort , where guests were enjoying their vacations. According to reports, after firing multiple shots, the attackers fled the scene, with two escaping on jet skis , allegedly rented by the victim, while the other two fled on foot. The gunmen left chaos in their wake as tourists scrambled to find shelter inside the hotel and along the beach.
Law enforcement is investigating whether the murder was linked to drug trafficking and cartel-related violence , which continues to plague certain regions of Mexico. Although the victim was not a guest at the hotel, the presence of armed men in a popular tourist area has left many travelers shaken, casting a shadow over Cancun’s image as a tropical paradise. Video footage captured by bystanders at the scene showed stunned tourists huddled in the hotel lobby, many in disbelief over what had trans.