Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Authorities say they have dismantled an alleged criminal cell believed to be responsible for the deadly shooting at El Camarón Guasaveño restaurant, a brazen attack that left one employee dead and three others injured and became one of Playa del Carmen’s most disturbing acts of violence in recent weeks.
Among those arrested is Miguel “N,” alias “El Kilo,” identified by investigators as the alleged leader of the group, along with Luis Ángel “N,” alias “La Barbie,” and Leonardo “N,” alias “El Negro” or “Niño,” both described as suspected gunmen.
According to the Quintana Roo State Prosecutor’s Office, the three are under investigation for their alleged involvement in the killing of restaurant employee Marco Antonio and the attempted murder of three other workers, identified as Cristian, Itzel and Daniel, during the June 14 attack on El Camarón Guasaveño.
The arrests represent the most significant development yet in a case that shocked Playa del Carmen, not only because of the violence involved but because the gunfire erupted at a recently opened restaurant during business hours.
A Deadly Attack at a New Restaurant
The shooting occurred on the night of June 14, 2026, at El Camarón Guasaveño, a seafood restaurant that had only recently opened in Playa del Carmen.
According to authorities and local reporting, armed attackers arrived at the establishment and opened fire on employees. Marco Antonio was killed, while three coworkers were wounded.
The investigation later led authorities to Irving Osvaldo “N,” who had been arrested previously and is accused of driving the motorcycle used to transport the alleged gunman to and from the restaurant. Prosecutors now say the newly detained suspects form part of the same criminal structure believed to have organized or carried out the attack.
The State Prosecutor’s Office has not yet announced final convictions, and all of those detained remain legally presumed innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
Investigators Say the Restaurant Shooting Was Part of a Larger Pattern
The investigation has since expanded well beyond El Camarón Guasaveño. Prosecutors say ballistic evidence from a weapon seized during the investigation may connect the same alleged criminal cell to at least six armed attacks on businesses in Playa del Carmen.
The establishments named by authorities are: Antídoto, Karaoke & Sport El Pretexto, La Santa, Las Palmeras, El Camarón Guasaveño and Bom Bom del Tatich.
According to the prosecutor’s office, the attacks form part of ongoing investigations into the extortion of local businesses. That connection is particularly significant because it suggests the shooting at El Camarón Guasaveño may not have been an isolated act of violence, but part of a broader alleged campaign targeting bars, restaurants and other businesses.
Authorities have not publicly detailed the precise motive behind the restaurant attack or stated whether the owners had received a specific extortion demand before the shooting. Any such connection should therefore remain an allegation unless confirmed by investigators.
Who Was Arrested?
Authorities reported the capture of nine alleged members of the criminal cell, although some local reports have given slightly different totals because several arrests were made in separate operations and additional suspects had been detained earlier.
The nine identified in the principal operation were:
Miguel “N,” alias “El Kilo”; Luis Ángel “N,” alias “La Barbie”; Leonardo “N,” alias “El Negro”; Jesús “N”; Carlos “N”; Adán “N”; Jonathan “N”; Edgar “N”; and Claudio “N.”
Other reporting based on the prosecutor’s briefing identifies Ricardo “N” among those detained, illustrating some inconsistency in the publicly reported names and arrest totals. The core point, however, is that authorities say several alleged members of the organization have now been taken into custody in a series of operations. Police seized quantities of suspected marijuana, methamphetamine and cocaine, as well as a vehicle, cellphones and at least one handgun.
Miguel “El Kilo,” 33, was arrested in the Xcacel neighborhood, where authorities say they also seized suspected drugs, ammunition and a 9mm handgun. Other suspects were detained in and around Villas del Sol, an area investigators say was used as a base of operations for the group.
Alleged Leader Linked to Multiple Armed Attacks
According to prosecutors, Miguel “El Kilo” is believed to have served as the leader of the organization and may have ordered at least seven armed attacks against businesses in Playa del Carmen. The group is also accused of involvement in drug dealing in areas including Villas del Sol, La Guadalupana and Fifth Avenue.
Authorities are separately investigating possible links between members of the same cell and a recent double homicide in the irregular settlement known as Las Torres. That investigation remains ongoing.
Investigation Continues
The arrests were carried out through coordinated operations involving the Quintana Roo State Prosecutor’s Office, Playa del Carmen municipal police, the Quintana Roo State Citizen Security Department, the National Guard, the Mexican Army and the Navy. Authorities say the investigation remains open as they work to determine whether other people were involved and whether the group can be tied to additional acts of violence.
According to prosecutors, they now believe they have identified the criminal cell responsible. The next step will be proving those allegations in court. The restaurant has remained closed since the June 14 attack, and no reopening date has been publicly announced.
