A suspect had been. The shootings occurred on an avenue lined with restaurants and bars a bit farther inland. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. The gunfire sent LGBT tourists, at the Hyatt for a weeklong gay Day of the Dead celebration, diving for cover and barricading themselves in their hotel rooms, The Independent reported. MEXICO CITY A commando of drug gang gunmen on Thursday stormed ashore at a beach on Mexico's resort-studded Caribbean coast in front of luxury hotels and executed two drug . Three other. The shootings are the latest chapter in drug gang violence on Mexico's Caribbean coast. It is not the first time that tourists have been caught in the crossfire of such battles. Prosecutors said Friday they have arrested a suspect in that killing. They barricaded the door with mattresses there were two queen mattresses in the room and just tried to stay as quiet as possible.. Fox News has reached out to the U.S. embassy in Mexico and Quintana Roo State Police for comment. The carnage sent tourists scrambling for cover after 15 drug gang gunmen rocked up in ski masks and opened fire on the beach in front of the Azul Beach Resort and the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun. There have been signs that the situation in Quintana Roo state, where all the resorts are located, was out of control months ago. All guests confined to lobby now. Several cartels are fighting for the areas lucrative retail drug trade. We've received your submission. Gunfire erupted on Friday at the Hotel. Alongside heavyweights like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Isla Mujeres, Tulum frequently ranks as one of the most popular destinations among travelers in the Mexican Caribbean. He also adds that he is not "overly concerned" as this was his first time experiencing such an incident as a frequent visitor of Cancun over the past 31 years. A spokesperson for the Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun, which is located near the Hyatt Ziva Cancun, told ABC News it has no comment at this time. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheSunUS and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunUS, Jury inspect eerie Murdaugh murder scene where mom & son were executed, US Navy faces being totally outgunned by China in just seven years, says expert, Dances with Wolves actor pleads not guilty in 'sex cult' case, TikTok star, 28, is charged with child abuse after 'attack on boyfriend', 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, A map of the surroundings of the Hyatt Ziva Rivera Cancun resort, Tourists sheltering inside an empty room of the hotel, Tourists sheltering inside the hotel after gunfire erupted, Credit: Twitter/ Mike Sington / @MikeSington, Photos from the scene show hotel guests crouched on the floor as they seek shelter. The National Guard said later there was no evidence of any gunshots having been fired, and said the bangs may have occurred after someone knocked over three free-standing vertical display stands in the terminal. Former Mexican Senator Claudia Anaya likened the tourists' experience at the resort to a "horror movie," saying that the problem of violence in Mexico is no longer confined to just the streets. Three other Americans sustained minor injuries and did not require hospitalization, a US official confirmed to ABC News. The assailants arrived by boat and wore ski masks, officials said. In late October, farther south in the laidback destination of Tulum, two tourists one a California travel blogger born in India and the other German were caught in the apparent crossfire of rival drug dealers and killed. Rival cartels often kill another gangs street-level dealers in Mexico to eliminate competition and ensure their drugs are sold first. Graphic video posted online shows the incident appears to have unfolded near an outdoor dining area. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Andrew Krop told Fox News his husband was at the resort performing for the Vacaya gay vacation group. Authorities said no tourists were seriously injured or kidnapped. The province attorney general said the gunfire erupted during a fight between "antagonistic groups of drug dealers" and one person was arrested. Im not overly concerned because this is the first time ever, Lebassa said. He told the Metro Weekly: "We had literally just arrived and were walking to the beach when a rain of gunfire happened, and people all started running from the beach and pool area to take cover. Also in March, authorities found four bodies dumped in undergrowth in Cancun, and said they were part of a total of 13 murders committed by the Jalisco cartel in the resort since September. The Quintana Roo state prosecutor's office said both victims had criminal records. Prosecutors said Friday they have arrested a suspect in that killing. Earlier in the day, the victims had apparently arrived at the beach in front of the Azul Beach Resort and the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun and claimed the territory as their own. Footage from inside the five-star resort showed terrified guests cowering behind walls, crouched on the floor and hiding in dark rooms. Rival cartels in Mexico often kill another gangs street dealers to get rid of the competition and to ensure their drugs are sold first. "Do you think tourists want to keep coming to share our tragedy? A shootout between rival drug gangs at a ritzy Cancun resort left four Americans hurt, according to reports. Cancun shooting: Four Americans injured in drug gang gunfire at luxury Mexico resort. The other was killed on the beach. LGBTQ vacation company VACAYA confirmed to ABC News that an American who was part of its group suffered a gunshot wound during the incident. Cancuns seafront is much sought after by several cartels for its lucrative retail drug trade, and the shootings are just the latest display of gang violence that has disrupted the once tranquil reputation of Mexicos Caribbean coast. 2.4 mi (3.8 km) from Tempe. We have been given the all-clear from Mexican officials to resume operations. An American vacationing in Cancun confirmed to ABC News that he heard shots fired while at the Hyatt Ziva Hotel in Puerto Morelos. Several guests have now told be they saw gunman come up from the beach, actively shooting. Montes de Oca said eight suspects in the Tulum attack had been detained in possession of firearms. Video, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Harry and Meghan told to 'vacate' Frogmore Cottage, Fungus case forces Jack Daniels to halt construction, Rare Jurassic-era bug found at Arkansas Walmart, Dozens of girls treated after new Iran poisonings, Havana Syndrome unlikely to have hostile cause - US, How fake copyright complaints are muzzling journalists. "It was chaos as people ran from the pool and beach. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! 2023 BBC. Email us at exclusive@the-sun.com or call 212 416 4552. The resort has 375 oceanfront suites, including swim-up suites for families with children ages 13 and older. One Hyatt guest was hit with a stray bullet, Mike Sington, a former senior executive at NBCUniversal staying at the resort, tweeted Thursday.The injured guest has been released from the hospital, Sington said, andreturned to the resort, where normal operations have resumed. Photos of the suspected gunman were posted online by regional police chief Lucio Hernndez Gutirrez. The Puerto Morelos shooting came two weeks after a California travel blogger and a German tourist were killed in a similar shootout in the beach town of Tulum in October. I did not see any shots coming in toward the shoreline.. 6 Police at the scene in Cancun, Mexico Credit: Reuters 6 He tweeted that the incident "hurts our society" adding that "we will continue investigating together with the federal forces until we find those responsible". Armed suspects escaped in a stolen motorboat, authorities said. It is not the first time that tourists have been caught in the crossfire of such battles. A suspect had been detained in relation to the attack, which did not take place in the resorts hotel zone, according to prosecutors in the coastal state of Quintana Roo. Most of the bodies were found in vacant lots or houses. The shooting began at approximately 9:00 p.m. on Kabah Avenue, in the nightlife heart of the tourist resort. In March, tourists were sent scrambling by loud bangs heard at the international airport in Cancun. Two of the alleged gang members died, the office said. Market data provided by Factset. Mike Sington, a guest at the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun, wrote on Twitter: "Guests are telling me they were playing volleyball on the beach, gunman approached firing guns. Dining options range from local Caribbean specialties to a wellness-focused restaurant with smoothies and vegan offerings and 24-hour room service for a late-night bite. Market data provided by Factset. The gunfight also apparently broke out between two rival drug gangs in the area, according to prosecutors. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Not everyone was as unflappable as Lebassa, though. Guests ran for their lives and took shelter after being told there was a "threat to the hotel" and possible shooting at the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun resort in Mexico. FOUR Americans were hurt in an attack at a hotel in Cancun that left two dead on Thursday evening. Rival drug gangs engaged in the Thursday gunfight on the beach outside Azul Beach. Talking Stick Resort - Spa property rated 4 stars. Meanwhile, the U.S. embassy in Mexico issued a statement about the incident, advising American citizens to contact the U.S. Consulate in Merida if they needed assistance. A room at the Hyatt Ziva Rivera Cancun resort comes with a $400-a-night price tag. According to local reporters, the Mexican army arrived at the resort moments after the shooting. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Cancun: Resort guests take shelter in lobby as two dead in rival drug gang beach melee Mexico News. Puerto Morelos is a popular tourist area on Mexico's eastern coast, about 25km (about 15 miles) south of Cancun. Another person was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Just two weeks prior to this shooting, one US and another German tourist were killed in a similar incident in the beach town of Tulum. A shootout between rival drug gangs at a ritzy Cancun resort left four Americans hurt, according to reports. Minutes from everything. Guests gather in the hotel lobby after a reported shooting at Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun resort, in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico, Nov. 4, 2021 in this still image obtained from a social media video. He later tweeted that guests were taken out of hiding and brought to the lobby, where they cried and hugged each other. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. The chief police of the coastal state. Mexican state authorities said armed individuals were spotted in the beach area of Hyatt Riviera Cancun and reported to police, "who took the lives of two men who are presumed to be drug dealers.". Staff hustled us into hidden rooms behind the kitchens. "Everyone ran from beach and swimming pools. Two people are dead after a shooting involving alleged drug gangs in a Mexico resort zone Thursday afternoon, authorities said. State authorities called it a clash between rival groups of drug dealers on a beach near two hotels. A shooting at a ritzy resort near Cancun left two Canadians dead and one other injured Friday, Mexican authorities said. Four Americans were injured in a beachfront shoot-out between Mexican gangsters that left two suspected drug dealers dead and tourists scrambling for cover. The police chief said the gun was fired during "an argument among hotel guests". The U.S. embassy in Mexico said consulate officials were looking into social media reports of shots being fired at a resort in Cancun. The other was killed on the beach. Gov. There have been signs that the situation in Quintana Roo state, where all the resorts are located, was out of control months ago. Three other foreign tourists were wounded. MEXICO TO DEPLOY NATIONAL GUARD TO CANCUN FOLLOWING SHOOTING IN TOURIST AREA. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. He called the attack a serious blow to the development and security of the state putting the image of the state at grave risk.. A spokeswoman for Canada's foreign ministry told the BBC: "Global Affairs Canada is aware of reports that Canadian citizens have been affected by an incident in Mexico. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Pronouns: she/her. MEXICO CITY, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Two Canadians died of gunshot wounds after an argument turned violent at a resort near Cancun on Mexico's Caribbean coast, authorities said on Friday. The carnage sent tourists scrambling for cover after 15 drug gang gunmen rocked up in ski masks and opened fire on the beach in front of the Azul Beach Resort and the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun. Im fine now, barricaded in my hotel room for the night, just trying to decompress.". Several cartels are fighting for the areas lucrative retail drug trade, including the Jalisco cartel and the a gang allied with the Gulf cartel. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Andrew Krop, a publicist in Montana whose husband Eric was at the hotel to sing for the LGBT+ gathering, told The Independent that Eric had been returning to the beach after finishing a measure of tequila at the hotel bar just before noon local time when he heard at least 20 gunshots. Vacayas co-founder Patrick Gunn said: Vacaya can confirm there was a gang-related shooting incident near the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun on November 4 and it was in no way a targeted attack on the LGBT+ community. The government is planning a luxury airport near Tulum and an intercity rail line that will loop around the whole Yucatn Peninsula, on whose tip Cancun sits. Bradford Betz is a Fox News Digital breaking reporter covering crime, political issues, and much more. Governor Carlos Joaquin said the commando of gunmen wore ski masks and arrived by boat at the beach before fleeing by boat. They then ran up to their rooms and were told to stay there because there was an active shooter on the property, according to Wildermuth, who said he saw military personnel directing people in front of the hotel. The Tulum gunfight also apparently broke out between two groups that operate street-level drug sales in the area, according to prosecutors. Rival cartels often kill another gang's street-level dealers in Mexico to get rid of competition and ensure their drugs are sold first. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. MEXICO CITY - One person was killed and six others were injured Friday in shootings on a main boulevard in Mexico's Caribbean coast resort of Cancun, authorities said. Arms initially thought it could've been a part of a show. Prosecutors said crime had increased due to extortion [and] drug sales to foreigners and Mexicans. Fortunately, no one was harmed or injured during the shooting. Guests love the family-friendly amenities. Guests gather in the hotel lobby after a reported shooting at Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun resort, in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico, Nov. 4, 2021 in this still image obtained from a social media video. Shortly after 2 p.m. local time, Jim Wildermuth, of Atlanta, said he was at the pool outside his room with other guests when they heard "cracks.". ABC News' Conor Finnegan, Jennifer Leong, Josh Margolin and Christine Theodorou contributed to this report. We just had to hit the deck, Guyrich said. Three other foreign tourists were wounded in the rampage at a street-side eatery, near Tulum's main strip, including two German men and a Dutch woman. Andy Guyrich and Kerry Arms, who were visiting from Minnesota, described more gunshots and terror on the beach. FOUR Americans were hurt in an attack at a hotel in Cancun that left two dead on Thursday evening. It went on for a little while and everyone dove for cover. The recent crime wave led President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obradorto send 1,500 members of the National Guard to patrol the region. The local police chief tweeted a photo of the wanted gunman, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. [1/5] Hotel workers are seen at the entrance to a hotel after two suspected drug gang members were shot dead in a beachfront clash between rival groups near the Mexican resort of Cancun, in Puerto . Guests gather in the hotel lobby after a shooting at Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun resort, in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico, Nov. 4, 2021, in this still image obtained from a social media video. The U.S. embassy in Mexico said consulate officials were looking into social media reports of shots being fired at a resort in Cancun. When it began, the Hyatt was hosting a week-long Day of the Dead celebration for LGBT+ travellers, organised by a New York travel company called Vacaya. Four Americans tourists were shot in the attack, which officials determined to be an assassination by a rival gang. Cancun beach shootout between alleged cartels sends guests scrambling Two suspected gang members died and one person was injured in a chaotic scene on the Mexican Riviera By Gabe Hiatt November. Thursday's chaotic scenes came after a California woman was killed in the apparent crossfire of a drug gang shootout in Mexico's Caribbean coast resort of Tulum last month. That individual is currently doing well at a local hospital, is surrounded by friends and family, and is we hope will return to the resort shortly. The shooting left two dead and four Americans injured. The dramatic shooting attack sent tourists scrambling for cover. "Everyone ran from beach and swimming pools. The shooting occurred on a beach in Puerto Morelos, south of Cancun, during a confrontation between alleged members of rival groups of drug dealers, according to a statement from the Quintana Roo Attorney General's Office. Theyre not telling us anything. It was the latest instance of violence that has blotted Cancuns reputation as a laid back getaway. A shootout at a busy beach in Cancn in early November left two suspected drug dealers dead. ", "We understand the hotel team immediately engaged local authorities who are on the scene investigating the situation," the company said, adding that it is "taking steps in an effort to ensure the safety of guests and colleagues.". The latest shooting incident follows another that killed two suspected gang members at the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun Resort on Nov. 5, where the suspect targeted the two individuals he planned to kill. These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands, The Pandemic Altered Many Things, Including Alcohol AbuseThese Are the Warning Signs. Still no announcement or update from hotel, Hyatt, or police. Hotel staff huddled together in corner. He ran back into the hotel and ended up in some random room with one of the housekeepers, said Mr Krop, whose account of events was confirmed to The Independent by Eric Krop. During the chaos, Eric was able to call Andrew from the hotel rooms phone. All rights reserved. A US official briefed on the incident confirmed to ABC News that the Americans were hurt, with one reportedly shot but recovering well in hospital and the other three sustaining minor injuries. The Puerto Morelos shooting comes two weeks after a California travel blogger and a German tourist were killed in a similar shootout in the beach town of Tulum. CCTV photos show the attacker in a light blue tracksuit. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Video of the incident verified by NBC News. Several guests staying at the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun told CNN they had been. Montes de Oca said one of the men targeted in the horror shooting attack ran into one of the hotels before dying. Four Americans were injured in a beachfront shoot-out between Mexican gangsters that left two suspected drug dealers dead and tourists scrambling for cover. "We advise U.S. citizens in the area to contact concerned family and/or friends to let them know they are safe.". The department is urging U.S. citizens in the area to let loved ones know they are safe. One tourist told CNN: "I was by the pool when multiple successive gunshots occurred. 50 USD Food and Beverage Credit towards restaurants at Westin Tempe, excluding In-Room Dining . Lucio Hernndez Gutirrez, the chief of police of the coastal state of Quintana Roo, said the attackers apparently pulled up to the beach on jet skis and opened fire at a beach in Cancuns hotel zone. pic.twitter.com/fL9BP7Jisb, Mike Sington (@MikeSington) November 4, 2021. "If you are in the affected area and need immediate emergency services, please contact local authorities," the spokesperson said. 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