Global Affairs Canada confirmed Saturday it is aware of the deaths of two Canadian citizens in Mexico, a day after local officials in the country reported a shooting at a resort near Playa del Carmen that also injured a third individual.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Global Affairs said it is aware of a shooting incident in Mexico involving three Canadian citizens.
Local officials in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo reported on Friday that two Canadians were killed and another was injured in a shooting at Hotel Xcaret, south of Playa del Carmen.
Quintana Roo state security secretary Lucio Hernández Gutiérrez confirmed the triple shooting on .
All three of those injured were identified as Canadian and Gutiérrez said they were immediately transferred to hospital, where one died.
Gutiérrez also released who allegedly shot the individuals, asking for any information that would lead to the person's arrest. One image shows the individual holding a handgun.
Later, the Quintana Roo confirmed on Twitter that another one of the individuals who was injured had also died.
The suspect in the shooting was apparently a guest, according to the state prosecutor's office.
"Consular officials are contacting local authorities to gather more information and stand ready to provide consular assistance," a statement late Friday evening from Global Affairs Canada said.
"Due to privacy considerations, no further information can be disclosed."
Public safety analyst Chris Lewis told 麻豆影视 Channel on Friday that there is still lots to unfold, including when the individuals involved came to Mexico, where the gun that was used came from, and any business or criminal associations that may exist.
"I don't see this going on for long before somebody's behind bars," he said. "But much investigation obviously, forensically and otherwise, to do, so they'll be all over this one."
The shooting follows another in November on the beach of Puerto Morelos that killed two people. Authorities said some 15 gunmen from a gang were involved in what appeared to be a dispute over drug sales there.
Further to the south in Tulum, two tourists 鈥� one a California travel blogger born in India and the other German 鈥� were caught in the apparent crossfire of rival drug dealers and killed back in October.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador sent nearly 1,500 members of the National Guard to reinforce security in the area following that shooting.
With files from The Associated Press
Global Affairs Canada advises Canadian citizens requiring emergency consular assistance to contact the Consular Agency of Canada in Cancún, Mexico at 52 (55) 5724-9795 or by email at cncun@international.gc.ca, or the Consular Agency of Canada in Playa del Carmen, Mexico at 52 (55) 5724-7900 or by email at mxico@international.gc.ca
Canadians may also contact Global Affairs Canada's Emergency Watch and Response Centre by calling +1 613 996 8885, by text message at +1 613-686-3658 or by sending an email to sos@international.gc.ca
