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 were killed when their pickup truck was riddled with bullets on Wednesday night in the town of Angamacutiro.
Local authorities have yet to identify the assailants or determine a motive for the attack, but investigations are ongoing. State prosecutors confirmed the incident, while the Angamacutiro town government announced that Cardona was the brother-in-law of the town’s mayor. Following the tragedy, the town canceled its public Christmas season events out of respect for the victims.
Local media reported that the couple was originally from Sacramento, California, and was visiting family in the area when the shooting occurred. The town lies 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, told AP News.
This tragic incident highlights the growing risks for locals and tourists alike in Mexico’s gang-ridden areas. The shooting comes just days after another high-profile killing in Mexico, where popular TikTok star Leovardo Asipuro Soto, known as Gordo Peruci, and his wife were gunned down outside their home in Culiacán on December 9.
Peruci, a father of four and a social media sensation with over one million TikTok followers was fatally shot at the scene, while his wife, Brenda Félix, later succumbed to her injuries after being rushed to a hospital in critical condition, as reports 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 across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, where he had cultivated a massive fanbase.
His sudden death has sparked mourning among fans and further concerns about safety in violence-stricken regions of Mexico. As investigations continue into both incidents, the brutal slayings of Rafael Cardona and Gloria Ambriz serve as a chilling reminder of the ongoing cartel-fueled violence in parts of Mexico. The American couple’s tragic deaths have not only devastated their families but also cast a spotlight on the dangers that persist in the region.