Tulum, Q.R. — UPDATED: A man was seriously injured in a shooting Friday afternoon on the Tulum–Felipe Carrillo Puerto highway. The man was shot in broad daylight in front of a restaurant that used to be a state police base.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots before seeing a man lying on the pavement. Paramedics responded to the scene and transported the injured man to a hospital where his condition is reported to be critical.
Authorities cordoned off the area from where evidence was collected. Police have not reported on the arrest of any suspects. The identity of the victim is unknown. Police did not provide a motive for the shooting, however, local media have alleged it to be drug gang related.
UPDATE: The man shot has been identified as 30 year old Arcadio “X”, a dump truck driver. The shooting happened around 4:30 p.m. He was with other drivers from the National Union of Transporters of Change (UNTRAC) when two men arrived on a motorcycle and shot him several times before riding off.
He was rushed to hospital in critical condition. The shooting is believed work-related. Sources reported that Arcadio “X” and his father, who is also a unionized dump truck driver, had recently received threats from members of other unions allegedly linked to criminal groups. The threats are alleged to be due to growing tensions over the control of construction materials transportation in the region.
Neither the Secretaría de Seguridad Pública y Protección Ciudadana of Tulum or Tulum City Hall have commented on the town’s latest shooting.
