U.S. citizen killed in shootout near Cabo tourist area in Mexico

A U.S. citizen from California was killed and six other people, including two Mexican soldiers, were injured when civilians were caught in a shootout near San José del Cabo, a tourist area at the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula.

The shooting happened just after midnight on Sunday along the Transpeninsular Highway in Baja California Sur, according to the state prosecutor’s office. Police arrived while gunfire was still being exchanged in the area.

Upon arrival, officers found two Mexican soldiers with gunshot wounds, while two other soldiers were taking cover near a pickup truck that had been hit by gunfire. Additional soldiers and National Guard troops later arrived at the scene and the injured soldiers were taken to a hospital.

Five civilians later arrived at hospitals with gunshot wounds, according to prosecutors. A 31-year-old U.S. citizen from California was pronounced dead, but his identity was not released.

The other four civilians who were injured were Mexican nationals: a 35-year-old man, a 43-year-old woman, a 14-year-old boy and a 65-year-old woman who was shot in the leg. Prosecutors said the older woman’s injuries were considered life-threatening.

Prosecutors said the civilians were traveling in private vehicles when the shooting broke out and were hit by gunfire.

State police recovered four vehicles from the scene, including a military pickup, a Dodge Ram, a Toyota Tacoma and a Hyundai Santa Fe. They also seized five rifles, loaded magazines, a grenade launcher attachment with a grenade, a tactical vest and spent shell casings.

The Sinaloa Cartel is largely active in Baja California Sur, a state popular with U.S. tourists. The group has been fighting an internal war since the capture of longtime leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada near El Paso, Texas, a conflict that has left hundreds of people dead or missing across western Mexico.

BREAKING ⚡

🇲🇽 In South Lower California, fierce battles have begun.

In the city of San Jose del Cabo, heavy shootouts are reported between "Los Chapitos" and the people of their former lieutenant — Rene Bastidas ("El 00").

Several weeks earlier, Rene broke with "Los… pic.twitter.com/0my4nqV52i

— RusWar (@ruswar) May 31, 2026