Gunmen arrived in a truck and opened fire at a bar in central Mexico, killing 10 people in a region previously less affected by the country's severe criminal violence, authorities reported. Security camera footage shared by local media captured the attackers jumping from the truck and storming into the venue as patrons scrambled to escape or took cover.
The shooting occurred late Saturday at Los Cantaritos bar in downtown Queretaro, resulting in 10 fatalities and at least seven injuries, according to city public security chief Juan Luis Ferrusca. "Emergency services responded to the scene and confirmed that at least four individuals, armed with long guns, arrived in a pickup truck," Ferrusca said in a social media video.
One suspect was detained, and the attackers’ vehicle was later found abandoned and set on fire. Among the victims were three women, the Queretaro state prosecutor's office reported, adding that forensic teams were analyzing the crime scene and vehicle.
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Queretaro, the capital of Queretaro state, is generally considered one of Mexico's safer cities, in contrast to much of the country, which has long been plagued by drug cartel-related violence. State Governor Mauricio Kuri assured residents via social media platform X that "the entire security system of Queretaro is mobilized to capture the perpetrators." He added, "We will continue securing our borders and upholding the safety of our state. Those responsible for this brutal act will be brought to justice."
Located about 200 kilometers (120 miles) northwest of Mexico City, Queretaro is better known for its colonial architecture than for violent crime. Across Mexico, escalating violence—often tied to drug trafficking and gangs—has resulted in over 450,000 murders since 2006.
Addressing widespread violence remains a key challenge for President Claudia Sheinbaum, who took office as Mexico's first woman president on October 1. Sheinbaum has rejected launching a “war” on cartels, instead pledging to tackle crime at its roots through social programs and enhanced intelligence.
The northwest region of Sinaloa, a cartel stronghold, has seen violence spike since the July arrest of drug lord Ismael Zambada in the U.S., which has intensified gang conflicts. In the southern state of Guerrero, ongoing gang turf wars have also fueled a surge in violence. On Thursday, authorities reported the discovery of 11 bodies, including two minors, abandoned in a pickup truck in Chilpancingo, Guerrero’s capital. The victims were part of a group of 17 people, believed to be traveling merchants, who had been reported missing the previous month.
