Two Armed Attacks at Electronic Music Events Leave One Dead and Three Seriously Injured in Tulum

Tulum, Quintana Roo — January 9, 2026 – A day meant to showcase Tulum’s peak electronic music festival season was marred by violence today, when two separate armed attacks linked to music events occurred within a span of less than eight hours, leaving one man dead and three others seriously injured.

The first incident took place in the early morning hours at the entrance to the electronic music event “Themplo,” located near the intersection of Avenida Kukulkán and the coastal highway. According to forensic reports, at least six shots from a 9mm firearm were fired in a targeted attack. A man was struck twice—once in the chest and once in the back—and died at the scene. The shooting triggered panic among attendees, many of them foreign tourists.

Hours later, around 2:00 p.m., a second attack was reported at Cenote Vésica, south of Avenida Tulum on the highway toward Felipe Carrillo Puerto, where another electronic music festival was underway. Gunmen opened fire on workers at the venue, wounding three people.

The injured were identified as:

• Jonathan “N,” 37, an Argentine national, who sustained gunshot wounds to the neck, face, arms, and chest.
• Deyran de Jesús “N,” 30, from Veracruz, shot in the back.
• A third individual whose identity has not been released.

All three were initially treated at the IMSS-Bienestar hospital in Tulum before being transferred to a specialized clinic in Playa del Carmen due to the severity of their injuries.

In both cases, the attackers fled the scene, and authorities have reported no arrests. Security forces from municipal, state, and federal agencies responded to the incidents, but investigations remain ongoing.

The back-to-back attacks have raised renewed concerns about public safety in Tulum during high-profile events that attract thousands of visitors. With the winter festival season drawing international attention, the incidents underscore growing scrutiny over security measures at large-scale entertainment venues in the municipality.