Alleged Gang Leader Gunned Down in Playa del Carmen Supermarket Parking Lot

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — A reputed leader of a criminal group operating in the InHouse irregular settlement was shot and killed Tuesday night in the parking lot of a supermarket at the intersection of Avenida Colosio and the federal highway.

Irving Montalvo Méndez, identified by authorities as a local crime boss, was loading groceries into his SUV when a gunman approached and fired at least eight shots at close range before fleeing, according to initial reports.

Municipal police officers and paramedics responded to 911 calls but found Montalvo already dead at the scene. Officers cordoned off the area to preserve evidence.

A Violent History

Montalvo had an extensive criminal record and had been targeted in previous attacks linked to organized crime:

• Family ties: He was the son of Álvaro Montalvo, also a local crime boss who was killed in 2018.
• Previous attack: Seven years ago, he survived an assassination attempt on the Arco Vial highway, where gunmen fired at his moving vehicle, causing him to crash after running a red light.
• Collateral victims: His home in the InHouse neighborhood was repeatedly sprayed with bullets. In one such attack in 2023, a 10-year-old girl was killed by crossfire.
• Criminal proceedings: In September 2023, Montalvo was arrested and charged with attempted homicide after participating in an armed attack on a home in the Nueva Creación neighborhood.

Investigators from the State Prosecutor’s Office (FGE) arrived at the scene to collect the body, gather shell casings, and launch an investigation into the killing.