Rafael C,María Gloria A Obituary, Death; – Two American citizens were tragically shot and killed by assailants on Wednesday night in western Mexico, according to local authorities. This incident represents a significant challenge to the Mexican government’s ongoing efforts to address the violence that has affected various regions across the country.
The shooting occurred in Angamacutiro, a municipality in Michoacán, where drug cartels have been engaged in fierce competition for control over the local economy and drug trafficking routes. This attack follows a series of other notable murders and kidnappings in the vicinity.
The victims, identified by Mexican prosecutors only as Rafael C., aged 53, and María Gloria A., aged 50, were residents of California who had arrived in late November to celebrate the holidays with family, as stated by Magdalena Guzmán, a spokesperson for the Michoacán prosecutor’s office. Mexican authorities typically refrain from disclosing the full names of crime victims to avoid hindering ongoing investigations.
Prosecutors indicated that the man was born in the United States, while the woman was a naturalized American citizen originally from Mexico. Ms. Guzmán noted that there was no immediate information available regarding the motive behind the couple’s targeting.
Authorities became aware of the incident when security personnel discovered the couple’s vehicle, which had been riddled with bullets, on a street in Angamacutiro. Inside the vehicle was the body of the woman, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The man was found alive but in critical condition and was transported to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries early Thursday, according to Ms. Guzmán.
A representative from the United States Embassy in Mexico confirmed that officials were “aware of the situation” and were closely monitoring developments. The State Department issued a statement saying, “We are aware of reports regarding the deaths of two U.S. citizens in Michoacán, Mexico. We are working to gather further information and are prepared to provide consular assistance if necessary.”
These killings occurred against the backdrop of a series of violent incidents in Angamacutiro, which is adjacent to Guanajuato, one of Mexico’s most dangerous states, located northwest of Mexico City. In late October, armed individuals with assault rifles murdered the town’s police chief. The former mayor of the town, Maribel Juárez Blanquet, was also a victim of violence.
