Tragedy struck a resort in central Mexico, when a group of gunmen attacked and killed seven people, including a seven-year-old child. The shooting occurred near the swimming pool at the La Palma resort in Cortazar, a small town in Guanajuato state, and left another person seriously injured.

Video footage taken after the incident showed dead bodies piled up near the pool, and dazed adults and children walking around. Police officials have reported that the suspects entered the resort’s swimming pool area at around 4:30 pm and began shooting at everyone. 

The gunmen also destroyed the spa store and seized the security cameras that recorded the attack. Following the shooting, the gunmen fled the scene, and Mexican authorities launched a search using a helicopter.

Officials are investigating the motive behind the attack. The incident has left many families in mourning, with scared parents seen hugging their children in videos circulating on social media. An unidentified witness, who was present during the shooting, reported that heavily armed gunmen suddenly appeared and opened fire. 

Although authorities have not implicated any specific group in the attack, rival drug cartels have engaged in skirmishes in the state in recent years. 

Guanajuato is a large agricultural and manufacturing hub and is notorious for gang violence and its recent brutal conflicts between rival gangs. The area is attractive for drug cartels because of the road and rail networks in the vicinity that lead straight to the US border. 

The term of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has been plagued by gang violence, with homicides in the country decreasing slightly in the last year. The attack at the La Palma resort is a grim reminder of the challenges faced by President Obrador in addressing gang violence and protecting the citizens of Mexico.