SAA event in Mexico on Sat 2nd May 2026

A minor was shot and killed during a direct attack at an illegal cockfighting arena in the Tecamachalco neighborhood of La Paz, State of Mexico. The makeshift venue, set up inside a building, descended into chaos when an armed group stormed in and opened fire on the attendees. According to the investigation, Héctor Eduardo “N”, Tania Itzel “N”, and Kathia del Carmen “N” arrived with other individuals in a pickup truck and on two motorcycles. There, Tania Itzel handed a weapon to Héctor Eduardo, who, along with Kathia and another accomplice, positioned themselves at the entrance and opened fire without warning. The minor was wounded at the scene and later died. The main line of inquiry points to retaliation: the event organizers allegedly refused to pay extortion money. This type of attack fits the pattern of violence in eastern Mexico State, where criminal cells extort money from informal businesses, including clandestine cockfighting arenas. After touring the area, we noticed that the building still has visible bullet holes in its facade and signs of a hasty closure, while neighbors avoid speaking about the incident out of fear. The three suspects have already been captured and sent to prison, while the prosecutor's office continues its investigation to locate the other participants in the attack.