At least 11 people lost their lives and 12 others sustained injuries after gunmen opened fire at a football ground in central Mexico on Sunday, highlighting the intensifying criminal violence gripping the region. The attack occurred in the Loma de Flores area of Salamanca, located in the troubled state of Guanajuato, shortly after a local football match had concluded. Municipal and state officials confirmed that the shooting unfolded as spectators and players were still present at the venue, turning a community sporting event into a scene of chaos and tragedy amid Mexico’s ongoing struggle with organised crime.
Salamanca Mayor Cesar Prieto said an armed group arrived at the football pitch just after the match ended, when people were gathered on and around the field, and began firing without discrimination. Ten victims died instantly at the scene, while another succumbed to injuries later in hospital. The mayor confirmed that those wounded included a woman and a minor. In an official statement, Prieto warned that Salamanca was facing a sharp rise in criminal violence, driven by organised groups seeking to challenge and weaken the authority of the state through fear and brutality.
Calling the situation extremely serious, Prieto appealed directly to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and senior state officials for urgent security assistance. He described the violence as a profound social breakdown and reiterated that criminal organisations were attempting to subdue authorities, an effort he said would not succeed. The mayor urged both the president and the state governor to provide additional support to help restore peace and stability. He also assured residents that the administration would press ahead with investigations and ensure those responsible for the attack are identified and brought to justice.
The Guanajuato state prosecutor’s office confirmed that a formal investigation has been launched into the mass shooting and said it is working closely with federal authorities. Additional state and federal security forces have been deployed in and around Salamanca as part of broader efforts to stabilise the city and prevent further violence. Guanajuato has emerged as Mexico’s deadliest state, recording the highest number of homicides last year. It has become a major battleground for organised crime, particularly due to violent rivalries over territory and illegal markets.
Much of the bloodshed in Guanajuato has been linked to clashes between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel, rival criminal groups locked in a prolonged struggle for control. Their conflict has resulted in repeated mass shootings, hundreds of killings, numerous disappearances, and the discovery of clandestine graves across the state. While Mexico’s federal government says the national murder rate in 2025 dropped to 17.5 killings per 100,000 people, the lowest since 2016, analysts warn that such figures can conceal severe, localised violence in hotspots like Guanajuato.