An American couple was tragically shot to death in the western Mexican state of Michoacán, officials confirmed Saturday. The victims, Rafael Cardona and his wife Gloria Ambriz, died when their truck was riddled with bullets on Wednesday night in the town of Angamacutiro.
Local authorities have yet to identify the attackers or determine a motive for the attack, but investigations are ongoing. State prosecutors confirmed the incident, while the Angamacutiro municipal government announced that Cardona was the brother-in-law of the town’s mayor. After the tragedy, the city canceled its public events for the Christmas season out of respect for the victims.
Local media reported that the couple were originally from Sacramento, California, and were visiting family in the area when the shooting occurred. The city is near the border of Guanajuato, Mexico’s deadliest state, where warring drug cartels continue to escalate violence in their battle for control of the region, he said. AP News.
This tragic incident highlights the growing risks for locals and tourists alike in gang-ridden areas of Mexico. The shooting comes just days after another high-profile murder in Mexico, where popular TikTok star Leovardo Asipuro Soto, known as Gordo Peruci, and his wife were shot to death outside their home in Culiacán on December 9.
Peruci, a father of four and social media sensation with more than a million followers on TikTok, was shot dead at the scene, while his wife, Brenda Felix, later succumbed to her injuries after being rushed to hospital. to a hospital in critical condition, as reported. ABC News.
Police are still investigating the Culiacán attack, which occurred at approximately 10 p.m., but no arrests have been made. Peruci was widely known for his comedy sketches and humorous storytelling on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, where he had cultivated a huge fan base.
His sudden death has sparked mourning among fans and further concerns about safety in violence-affected regions of Mexico. As investigations into both incidents continue, the brutal murders of Rafael Cardona and Gloria Ambriz serve as a chilling reminder of the ongoing cartel-fueled violence in some parts of Mexico. The tragic deaths of the American couple have not only devastated their families but have also highlighted the dangers that persist in the region.