On the morning of December 29, 2023, a violent shooting took place at a party in Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico, resulting in eight deaths and 23 injuries.

Three individuals armed with guns arrived at the party scene in a pickup truck and attacked the partygoers. An additional attacker, who was already present at the party, allegedly a teenager, aided in the attack and identified the target.

The main target of the attack was Leobardo Vega Arellano, also known as “El Wacho,” an alleged gang leader and drug trafficker. He was wanted on five arrest warrants for charges including homicide and femicide. Despite his efforts to flee, Vega Arellano was among those who were killed.

The shooting claimed the lives of two individuals under the age of 18. Among the wounded were five children, with four victims in critical condition in local hospitals. Thirteen of the injured have been treated and discharged. Two additional fatalities were reported following initial media coverage.

The attackers managed to escape, leaving behind a scene of destruction and raising questions about the ongoing drug conflict in the region.

In a December 30 Twitter post, Sonora’s governor, Alfonso Durazo, announced that four individuals connected to the attack had been arrested, along with the seizure of the vehicle used in the crime, assault rifles, and drugs found in their possession at the time of the arrest.

Ciudad Obregon, situated in northwest Mexico, is a key battlefield in the fight for control over drug trafficking routes to the United States. This incident underscores the region’s instability, marked by ongoing conflicts between rival criminal factions such as the Sinaloa Cartel and Los Chapos Cartel.

The Attorney General’s Office has suggested that this shooting was a targeted assault by a rival group against “El Wacho,” indicative of the fierce territorial disputes in the drug trade.

As per U.S. travel advisories, Sonora state is a center for crime and kidnapping, playing a significant role in international drug and human trafficking networks. The level of violence in this area poses substantial risks, not only to residents but also to visitors and U.S. government employees, who are subject to strict travel restrictions due to safety concerns.