Two Men Killed Outside of Mexican Casino Near US Border, Police Reveal

Posted on: May 12, 2021, 04:20h. 

Last updated on: May 13, 2021, 11:00h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More
Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

Mexican police continue to search for the killers of two men who were shot to death earlier this week in front of a gaming property within miles of the US border. It was a drive-by shooting, witnesses reported.

Police are still looking for the shooters
Church in scenic San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico shown here. The city was the location of a double fatal shooting in front of a casino. (Image: Mexican Routes)

The unnamed casino is located in Plaza La Herradura, a commercial area in San Luis Rio Colorado. It is a city in the northwestern Mexican state of Sonora.

The fatally shot men were identified as 62-year-old and 33-year-old, according to KYMA, a television station in Arizona. The station only reported their first names.

The suspects fled from the area after the Monday afternoon shooting. They remained on the loose as of Wednesday.

Diners at a restaurant next to the casino were huddled under tables and screamed in Spanish during the gunfire, according to a video posted on Facebook.

As of Wednesday, Mexican police had not arrested any suspects in the case. It is believed there was more than one shooter. If arrested and convicted, the shooters could face imprisonment. There is no capital punishment in Mexico, even in cases of homicide.

Based on initial reports, it is unclear why the two victims were targeted by the shooters. The casino is located about 26 miles from Yuma, Ariz.

In another state in Mexico, Tamaulipas, also located near the US border, officials in 2018 allowed for the return of legalized casino gaming. Gaming had been banned the year before because of the risk of crime.

Recent US Casino Fatal Shootings

Over the border in the US, several fatal shootings took place at casino complexes in recent months.

Last month, a fatal shooting occurred at Arizona’s Wild Horse Pass Casino parking garage. Jonathan Lorenz of Queen Creek, Ariz. allegedly fired shots at his ex-girlfriend and a man whom she was apparently dating. The incident occurred at the tribal parking garage in Chandler on April 15.

A victim, identified as Philip Bachelder, 52, died shortly after getting shot. Lorenz later was arrested on first-degree murder and aggravated assault charges.

Earlier this month, a former employee shot three people at a restaurant on the Oneida Nation casino complex in Wisconsin before he was killed by police.

Two of the people shot, Ian Simpson and Jacob Bartel, died from their injuries. A third person was seriously wounded by the shooter.