Children in Cancún: Trapped in Rising Violence

Violence against children and adolescents in Cancún, Quintana Roo, is becoming an everyday occurrence. The authorities at all levels of government are failing to uphold their campaign promises and their constitutional duty to enforce the law. In both public and private spaces of this major Latin American tourist center, acts of terror against the general public are commonplace, often hidden from view. The authorities often justify their inaction by claiming that the victims were involved in criminal activities.

Victims of violence in Quintana Roo span all age groups. Recently, an 11-year-old girl named Alondra became a victim when she was shot while buying breakfast at a local store. The incident took place in an area known as "Valle Verde" in the municipality of Benito Juárez, where the internationally renowned resort city of Cancún is located. The State Attorney General's Office has launched an investigation into the double homicide of a male and a minor.

The authorities' approach to the investigation is evident from their initial communication. They immediately stigmatize the residents of the area by labeling it as "irregular." The official statement reads: "The victims were shot outside a store in Valle Verde by a gunman on a motorcycle, who has been identified and is currently being sought by the authorities."

Eyewitnesses reported that a young man had entered the "Mari" store seeking refuge, realizing he was being pursued by armed individuals. When he noticed a motorcyclist had spotted him, he quickly embraced Alondra, and at that moment, they were both shot multiple times. Despite the quick arrival of Alondra's relatives and paramedics, both victims succumbed to their injuries.

On December 25th, around 10:00 PM, a 10-year-old boy was shot and killed by two men on a motorcycle. The boy was in a car with his relatives when the incident occurred at the intersection of 20 de Noviembre and Chac Mool avenues, in region 215, near the "Los Héroes" subdivision, in Cancún.