Playa del Carmen, Q.R. — A shooting that left three with bullet wounds has been reported at Hotel Xcaret in Riviera Maya. The hotel, which is located just south of Playa del Carmen, recorded the shootings shortly after 2:30 Friday afternoon.
The Secretario de Seguridad Pública del Estado de Quintana Roo, Lucio Hernández Gutiérrez confirmed the shooting. On social media, the police chief posted “Derived from the report of firearm shots inside the Xcaret hotel, three people are reported injured, derived from a discussion between hotel guests, information in process.”
Reports say the shooting happened when a dark-skinned male entered the property and shot three people at close range. All three were Canadian guests and were said to be seriously wounded with one dying upon arrival at hospital.
The gunman, who was captured on surveillance video, managed to flee the hotel after firing the shots. Witnesses said he ran toward vegetation. Arrests have not been announced. The shooting is said to have occurred over a verbal dispute.
Police, firemen and ambulances responded to the 911 report of the hotel shooting. Paramedics arrived to transport the three seriously injured Canadian hotel guests to hospital. One of them reportedly died shortly after arriving.
On Friday afternoon, Lucio Hernández Gutiérrez posted another update saying “Regarding the deplorable events at the Xcaret hotel, the three injured were immediately transferred to the hospital, where unfortunately one dies, the three guests are of Canadian origin.”