Five teenagers—reportedly all aged between 14 and 15—were gunned down in a brutal attack by an armed commando at a house in a Tlaquepaque neighborhood in the early hours of February 18. Two other men in their early 20s were also killed in the assault.
Authorities have issued little information about the attack, except to say that no arrests have been made and investigations are continuing.
Unofficial reports suggest the attack may be connected to an incident earlier that evening outside a bar located a few blocks from the property.
Since the start of 2024, 22 homicides have been reported in Tlaquepaque, including five incidents involving multiple killings. The violence has not affected the central tourist areas of the municipality, however, and has been limited to outlying neighborhoods.
On February 5, Mexico’s Ministry of Defense announced it was sending 400 troops to Tlaquepaque to assist local and state authorities with patrols and maintain law and order. Some experts in public security say this is having a limited effect. Gustavo Orozco, president of the College of Public Security Graduates, said the armed forces and federal National Guard are primarily reactionary forces, and do not undertake actual police work, which is most needed to improve the security situation in the municipality.
Jalisco Governor Enrique Alfaro said the spike in violence in Tlaquepaque is due to disputes between criminal organizations in the municipality and neighboring Tlajomulco.