PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO—A shooting inside a popular nightclub at a Mexican resort in Playa del Carmen, resulted in the death of five people. Officials reported that at least one person died as a result from clubgoers rushing out during the shooting, causing another 15 injuries during the stampede to escape.
A terror attack has been ruled out by Quintana Roo State Attorney General Miguel Angel Pech. It was also reported by Pech that the shooter opened fire when security stopped him from entering the Blue Parrot nightclub with a gun. Three of the five killed were security gaurds for the ongoing 10-day BPM music festival, a festival that attracts a large number of tourists to the resort every year. The gunman fled the scene, shortly after the shooting ended.
Officials released that those killed included one American, one Canadian, one Italian, and two Mexicans.
The U.S. Embassy confirmed that the victim killed during the stampede was a U.S. citizen. Quintana Roo state prosecutor’s office has identified the victim as Alejandra Villanueva Ibarra, 18.
Canada’s Global Affairs Department identified the Canadian victim as Canada citizen Kirk J. Wilson. Wilson, 49, worked as security at the BPM festival.
Italy’s Foreign Ministry confirmed one of its citizens as a victim. He has been identified as Daniel Pessina, who was also confirmed to be another member of the BPM staff.
The Mexican victims have been identified as Geovanni Ruiz Murillo and Rafael Penaloza Vega.
Attorney General Pech reported one woman was seriously injured while trying to escape the club. Eight people were taken to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries and released.
The state tourism department referred to the shooting as an “isolated act of violence” and continued to stress that “the situation in Playa del Carmen is under control and that Mexican and foreign tourists can feel protected and safe.”
Three people were reportedly taken into custody after the shooting. It has not been confirmed if any of those individuals were connected to the shooting.
