The organizer of Chilpancingo's historic Christmas fair was shot and killed during a public event on Christmas Eve, marking the latest tragedy in Mexico's escalating wave of gang violence.
Chilpancingo, the capital of Mexico's Guerrero state, has long been plagued by violence driven by a brutal rivalry between the Tlacos and Ardillos drug gangs, AP News reported.
The violence plaguing Guerrero has intensified since the Mexican government began deploying military forces to combat drug cartels in 2006, with over 450,000 murders recorded nationwide during that time.
Suspected gunmen infiltrated a festive square in Chilpancingo's San Mateo neighborhood and directly targeted Martín Ramírez Ruíz, fatally shooting him amidst preparations for a traditional dance show.
Another individual was also killed, and a bystander sustained injuries in the attack.
The fair, a nearly 200-year-old tradition honoring St. Matthew, attracts thousands annually but has now been overshadowed by this act of violence.
Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado has promised a thorough investigation into Ramírez Ruíz's killing, but skepticism remains.
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