Five people have died and over a dozen have been injured in a mass shooing at The BPM Festival in the Mexican resort town of Playa Del Carmen.
As Billboard & The Associated Press report, Quintana Roo district attorney Miguel Angel Pech Sen has said that five people were killed and 15 were injured when shots were fired at the Blue Parrot venue at around 2:30am on Monday morning, 16th January.
Two Canadians, one Italian and one Colombian are among the dead, as is a woman who was killed in a stampede following the shooting.
Authorities said a lone gunman supposedly tried to enter the nightclub, but was denied entry because he had a gun, and he then began to exchange gunshots with a person inside the club.
Security personnel apparently tried to stop the shooting, and came under fire. Three members of security staff are understood to have died in the incident.
Pech Sen has said the shooting was not a terrorist attack, and added that three people had been detained nearby.
“We know of another shooting incident that occurred near the nightclub, but we are investigating whether that is related to the nightclub shootings,” Pech Sen said.
The BPM Festival released a statement on Facebook following the shooting, saying, “The violence began on 12th street in front of the club and three members of the BPM security team were among those whose lives were lost while trying to protect patrons inside the venue.
“The BPM Festival has been working closely with the local authorities throughout the festival to ensure public safety and security for all visitors.
“We are overcome with grief over this senseless act of violence and we are cooperating fully with local law enforcement and government officials as they continue their investigation.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with all the victims and their families and all those affected by these tragic events.”
Read the festival’s full statement, below.
The BPM Festival Statement (Via Facebook)
It is with great sadness to share that police have confirmed reports of a lone shooter outside the Blue Parrot nightclub in Playa Del Carmen earlier today, which resulted in four fatalities and twelve injured. The violence began on 12th street in front of the club and three members of the BPM security team were among those whose lives were lost while trying to protect patrons inside the venue.
The BPM Festival has been working closely with the local authorities (Seguridad Publica / Policia Turistica) throughout the festival to ensure public safety and security for all visitors. We are overcome with grief over this senseless act of violence and we are cooperating fully with local law enforcement and government officials as they continue their investigation.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all the victims and their families and all those affected by these tragic events.
The BPM Festival Familia
