The bodies of four men and two women were discovered on Tuesday, July 4, in Apodaca, a suburb of Monterrey, Mexico.

The victims, believed to be aged between 30 and 35, were discovered in the Residencial Palmas neighborhood. According to local prosecutors of Nuevo Leon, a border state, all victims had their hands bound and showed evidence of gunshot injuries. These victims, reportedly kidnapped in two separate vehicles, were later lined up and executed near the Topo Chico stream, creating an unsettling scene that was found early in the morning.

Adding to the severity of the incident, authorities found the victims barefoot, their bodies tied with cords, which could be evidence of further torture. The crime scene was strewn with .38 caliber shell casings, a grim testament to the ferocity of the attack.

The atrocious incident has raised concerns over a potential resurgence of violence in Monterrey, a city that had seen a period of relative tranquility after years of drug-related disturbances. A tattoo on one of the victims, bearing the initials “CDN,” has led to speculation about the Northeast Cartel’s potential involvement, a group known for its ongoing territorial disputes with the Gulf and Sinaloa cartels.

In response to the event, local authorities have stepped up their efforts, intending to identify and apprehend the culprits.