Second shooting in a week rocks Mexican resort town

Mexican authorities in the state of Quintana Roo have reported the shooting death of the manager of a popular beachfront bar, the second fatal shooting in the last week in the popular resort town of Playa del Carmen.

Federico Mazzoni, the Argentinian manager of Mamita’s Beach Club, was reportedly discovered in a bathroom, according to local media reports.

Mazzoni’s death came less than a week after two Canadian tourists were killed at a resort less than six miles away. Officials have stated that last week’s shooting at Hotel Xcaret was the result of an argument between guests, and that the Canadians who died had criminal records.

According to the Washington Post, the attorney general’s office in the state of Quintana Roo tweeted on Tuesday that it was investigating the shooting of a restaurant worker in the municipality of Solidaridad and had sent agents to collect evidence and conduct interviews at the scene.

Later, on Wednesday, Quintana Roo’s secretary of security tweeted that helicopter patrols were actively searching for a suspect in the killing.  

Tourist destinations in the Riviera Maya region, including Playa del Carmen and Cancún, have been trying to combat news of violence in recent months after several shootings have dominated the news since the fall.

In November, tourists ran into resorts for safety after gunmen shot at each other on the beach in an apparent gang related territory issue. According to experts, such violence is spilling out of disputes over drug trafficking.

The U.S. State Department says travelers should reconsider going to Mexico because of the coronavirus, and it advises those visiting Quintana Roo to “exercise increased caution” because of crime.

The U.S. Consulate General in Merida reiterated that advice Tuesday in a security alert issued “in light of recent security incidents and criminal activity in popular tourist destinations.”

“Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state, including areas frequented by U.S. citizen visitors,” the alert said.