Shooting Incident in Metropolitan Zapopan
Site of Korea's First and Second Group Matches
Over 100 Shell Casings Found at the Scene
With the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup approaching, concerns over local security have been raised after a shooting in downtown Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico, left three people dead. On December 30, Yonhap News, citing statements from the Jalisco State Prosecutor's Office and the Zapopan police, reported that at approximately 10:20 a.m. that day, a group of armed assailants carried out a shooting in the Residencial Victoria area of Zapopan. Zapopan is part of the Guadalajara metropolitan area in western Mexico.
Jalisco, home to Akron Stadium, is known as the region with the highest number of missing persons in Mexico and is the stronghold of the notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The crime rate stands at 234 incidents per 100,000 people, placing it among the top regions nationwide. Photo by AP Yonhap News
According to local media, a Lamborghini Urus, a luxury SUV, was attacked by at least five armed assailants while traveling on a road near the commercial complex "Plaza del Sol." The vehicle was reportedly being escorted by another SUV, but the assailants used rifles and high-powered weapons to fire continuously for about 10 minutes.
Medical personnel confirmed the deaths of two men at the scene, and five others, including one woman, were transported to the hospital. The woman, who had sustained critical injuries, later died during treatment, bringing the total number of fatalities to three. The deceased are believed to be a merchant from the Guadalajara wholesale market who was riding in the Lamborghini, his bodyguard, and his underage daughter. The daughter, who was sitting in the back seat, suffered severe injuries and was taken to the hospital, but ultimately succumbed to her wounds. The remaining four injured individuals are all bodyguards, with one reported to be in critical condition. Locally, it has been reported that the merchant was a businessman engaged in the distribution of seeds, grains, and food products, but authorities have not officially released the identities of the victims.
The Jalisco Forensic Institute collected more than 100 shell casings, several rifles, and high-capacity magazines at the scene. On social media, videos have spread showing the sound of repeated gunfire and men wearing bulletproof vests taking cover behind vehicles and returning fire. Authorities are investigating the identities and motives of the perpetrators and have not ruled out the involvement of local criminal organizations or cartels. The location of the incident is about a 15-minute drive, or approximately 7 kilometers in a straight line, from Akron Stadium, the venue for the 2026 North and Central America World Cup. The Korean national football team is scheduled to play its first and second group stage matches at this stadium on June 12 and June 19 next year, facing the winner of the European playoffs and Mexico, respectively.
The security issue in Jalisco ahead of the North and Central America World Cup is not the first time it has arisen. Earlier this month, a report shocked many by revealing that at least 456 bags containing corpses were found near Akron Stadium since 2022. Photo by AP Yonhap News
This is not the first time that security issues in Jalisco have come to the forefront ahead of the North and Central America World Cup. Earlier this month, reports shocked the public by revealing that at least 456 bags containing bodies had been found near Akron Stadium since 2022. Local media have reported that many of these incidents are likely linked to organized crime and cartels.
Jalisco is the region with the highest number of missing persons in Mexico and is known as the stronghold of the notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The crime rate stands at 234 incidents per 100,000 people, ranking among the highest nationwide. According to the Mexican federal government, there were 963 homicides reported in Jalisco through September this year, making it the eighth highest among Mexico's 32 states. This incident is expected to further increase international attention on Mexico's efforts to strengthen security and ensure safety for the upcoming World Cup.
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