Nighttime Hospital Shooting in Northern Mexico Leaves Four Dead
In a tragic incident, a nighttime shooting attack on a hospital in Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa state in northern Mexico, has claimed the lives of four people, including a doctor, as confirmed by authorities on Friday.
The attack unfolded near midnight on Thursday and brought chaos to the streets of Culiacan, which is notorious for its association with the Sinaloa drug cartel.
The Assault
State police revealed that at least three armed assailants attempted to breach the hospital’s security, but their ill-fated mission ended in a fierce gunbattle with hospital security personnel. Regrettably, the doctor found himself caught in the crossfire, losing his life in the process.
One of the attackers sustained injuries during the confrontation. However, in an astonishing turn of events, he managed to overpower a police officer as he was being transferred to another medical facility. Tragically, he used the officer’s own firearm to take his own life, according to the police.
Motives Unclear
Local media reports suggest that the attackers targeted the hospital to eliminate a patient who had previously been wounded in a separate gunbattle. However, the state prosecutors’ office has not yet officially confirmed this theory.
Sinaloa’s Ongoing Turmoil
Sinaloa state has been the epicenter of clashes between different factions within the notorious Sinaloa cartel. These disputes involve the imprisoned drug trafficker Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán’s sons, other family members, and the long-standing cartel leader, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada.
Persistent Issues in Mexico
It’s important to note that these violent attacks by drug cartel members targeting ambulances and hospitals, while seeking wounded rivals, have been an enduring and concerning issue in Mexico. The safety and well-being of healthcare facilities and professionals in the region remain a critical concern.