Tulum security minister killed in drive-by shooting

The information curate successful the Caribbean seashore edifice municipality of Tulum died successful the infirmary connected Saturday aft helium was changeable connected Friday night, authorities authorities said.

José Roberto Rodríguez Bautista, a navy skipper turned constabulary chief, was changeable successful the La Veleta vicinity of Tulum and transferred to a infirmary successful superior condition, the Quintana Roo Attorney General’s Office (FGE) said successful a connection connected Saturday morning.

The transgression occurred successful the vicinity of La Veleta, Tulum astatine astir 8:30 p.m. connected Friday. (Cuartoscuro)

“Despite the efforts to prevention him, helium mislaid his beingness hours later,” the FGE said.

An alleged subordinate of a transgression radical “dedicated to the merchantability of drugs” was killed astatine the determination wherever the constabulary main and his bodyguard came nether attack, authorities said.

According to the Quintana Roo Security Ministry (SSC), Rodríguez and his bodyguard were attacked astatine astir 8:30 p.m. Friday by 2 men connected a motorbike. The information curate and his bodyguard — who were reportedly successful an authoritative conveyance — returned occurrence and killed 1 of the assailants, the SSC said.

The bodyguard, who was not identified, was wounded and taken to hospital.

The FGE said it had opened an probe into the events that led to the “regrettable death” of Rodríguez, who had been the information curate successful Tulum for astir six months. The 2nd assailant fled the scene, evading arrest.

Citing preliminary accusation from national sources, the paper Reforma reported that the transgression radical that carried retired the onslaught connected Rodríguez has links to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, oregon CJNG.

Tulum is known astir the satellite for its beauteous beaches and seaside archaeological site.

The edifice municipality is besides known arsenic a enactment destination and high-end hippy hub wherever illicit drugs are wide available. Violence successful Tulum has go progressively communal successful caller years, and overseas tourists person been among those killed successful the town.

Despite its popularity arsenic a tourism destination, Tulum has a precocious homicide complaint of 107.3 homicides per 100,000 residents. (Flickr)

According to the transgression statistic website elcri.men, Tulum was the 16th astir unsafe municipality successful Mexico betwixt March 2024 and February 2025 with 107.3 homicides per 100,000 residents.

The municipality is located astir 130 kilometers southbound of Cancún. The Tulum airdrome opened successful precocious 2023, giving aerial passengers nonstop entree to the tourism destination.

Governor pledges to clasp culprits to account 

In written remarks supra a video connection posted to societal media, Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama pledged to “apply the afloat value of the instrumentality against those liable for the cowardly attack” connected Rodríguez.

“There volition beryllium nary impunity,” she wrote.

In the video message, Lezama recognized “the enactment carried retired by the minister” arsenic good arsenic his “commitment” and “dedication.”

“His results are clear. I vigorously and categorically cull this and immoderate enactment of violence. None should spell unpunished,” she said.

“My committedness arsenic politician is unshakeable. They volition not divert america from our resoluteness to warrant the information and tranquility that each Quintana Roo residents deserve,” Lezama said.

“… Not 1 backward measurement successful the combat for the tranquility and well-being of our people. I reaffirm that we won’t remainder until the culprits of these acts are taken earlier justness and the afloat value of the instrumentality is applied. The bid and information of the radical of Quintana Roo is and volition proceed being our priority,” she said.

The Tulum municipal authorities besides condemned the onslaught connected Rodríguez, and extended its condolences to the household and friends of the deceased constabulary chief.

With reports from Reforma, AFP, CNN Español and Aristegui Noticias