A Catholic holiday celebration turned into a massacre Tuesday night in Irapuato, a city in Mexico’s Guanajuato state, when gunmen opened fire, killing at least 11 people, including a 17-year-old minor, and injuring 20 others, according to state authorities.
The victims were attending a party for the Feast of Saint John the Baptist, when gunmen stormed the scene and opened fire.
The violence erupted during what should have been a peaceful evening of food, dancing, and community celebration.
“It is very unfortunate what happened,” said Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday.
“An investigation is under way.
Videos shared on social media showed a live band playing in a courtyard filled with dancing guests before the sound of rapid gunfire sent the crowd fleeing in terror.
While Reuters has not independently verified the video, its contents match witness reports.
According to the Guanajuato Attorney General’s Office, the 11 fatalities include both male and female victims, with some pronounced dead at the scene and others succumbing to injuries at hospitals.
Twenty people remain hospitalized, several in critical condition.
Initial reports claimed children were among the dead, but officials later confirmed that only one minor, aged 17, was killed.
Guanajuato has long been a flashpoint for cartel violence, as rival criminal groups battle over drug trafficking routes, fuel theft operations, and territory control.
The state has consistently ranked among Mexico’s most violent regions, with frequent reports of mass killings, public executions, and targeted assassinations.
Just hours before the Irapuato massacre, five more people were murdered in separate incidents across the state.
Despite increased security deployments in recent years, the violence has persisted.