SAN JOSÉ DEL CABO, Mexico — A U.S. tourist from California died early Sunday after being caught in a late-night burst of gunfire that erupted near the Los Cabos International Airport, leaving two Mexican soldiers and several civilians wounded in one of the most alarming security incidents reported recently in San José del Cabo.
The shooting unfolded late Saturday night in the area between the community of Santa Anita and the Costa Dorada neighborhood, a residential zone located near the airport. Videos recorded by witnesses and widely shared on Facebook showed moments of confusion, fear and heavy police and military activity along the highway and nearby streets.
According to the official report from Baja California Sur’s Security Roundtable, two members of Mexico’s Defense Department were injured, along with five civilians who were in the area when the gunfire broke out. Among the wounded were a 65-year-old woman, a 14-year-old minor, a man and two women ages 36 and 43. Authorities said they were receiving medical care.
The U.S. citizen, identified only as a man from California, was also struck during the incident. He died early Sunday while being taken for medical attention, officials said.
The violence began around 11 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, when military personnel conducting an operation in San José del Cabo reportedly became aware of gunfire and moved toward the Santa Anita area to investigate. Once there, authorities said, soldiers located a group of armed individuals traveling in several vehicles.
When the suspects noticed the presence of the military, they allegedly opened fire. Soldiers returned fire, triggering a shootout that spread panic through nearby neighborhoods and along the highway.
Residents of Costa Dorada said the military operation also focused on a home near Puerto San Carlos and Puerto Matancillas streets, where soldiers were reportedly attacked. Neighbors said bullets struck several homes, forcing families to drop to the floor and shelter in place in the dark as the gunfire continued.
Some residents described the minutes-long exchange as terrifying. Others reported hearing repeated bursts of gunfire and seeing military units and civilian vehicles moving through the area.
At the same time, drivers near the highway entrance to Costa Dorada began reporting shots fired from moving vehicles. Residents of Santa Anita also shared images that appeared to show armed civilians inside vehicles parked near the community. Around 12:30 a.m., a car with bullet impacts was found abandoned on the bridge near Santa Anita.
Authorities said the suspects fled the area. No arrests had been reported as of Sunday.
Security forces later seized four long guns, two tactical vests, a radio, 15 tire-puncturing devices known in Mexico as “ponchallantas,” and two vehicles allegedly used by the armed group.
During the early hours of Sunday, the secretary general of the Los Cabos City Hall acknowledged that authorities were responding to a shooting-related incident but did not provide further details. He urged residents to stay safe, remain calm and avoid spreading false information.
By Sunday morning, residents were still reporting suspicious findings in nearby neighborhoods. In Villa Bonita, neighbors recorded a Nissan Versa abandoned with the engine running and its doors open. Video shared by residents appeared to show bloodstains inside the vehicle, though authorities had not confirmed whether the car was directly connected to the shootout.
The incident sparked calls for clearer information from local residents and political figures. Susana Zatarain, a PAN senator on leave, demanded that authorities explain what happened and provide the public with timely, accurate details, saying residents needed answers after a night of fear and uncertainty.
The shootout caused widespread concern in San José del Cabo, especially in Santa Anita, Costa Dorada and nearby neighborhoods close to the airport, where residents reported hearing gunfire and seeing a large deployment of federal, state and municipal security forces.
Authorities said operations remained underway Sunday as investigators worked to identify and locate the armed suspects involved in the attack.
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