An American woman and a man from Belize were killed after what was perceived to be a dispute between drug dealers at a beach club in Tulum on Mexico's Caribbean coast over the weekend.
According to prosecutors from the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, the American woman was allegedly caught in the crossfire and had no connection to an alleged male drug dealer who was also killed in the shooting on Friday night (Feb. 9).
Prosecutors and the US Embassy in Mexico have not provided the name of the American woman or her hometown, the Associated Press reported.
The Central American country of Belize shares a border with Mexico on the Caribbean coast, while Tulum is located south of Cancun and Playa del Carmen, closer to Belize.
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Prosecutors added that the dead man had cocaine and pills in his possession when he was killed, and was believed to be a dealer. On the other hand, the suspects - who are reported to be still on the run - had been identified.
Foreign tourists have been killed in the past after getting caught in drug gang shootouts in Tulum, such as in 2021, when two tourists, including an India-born California travel vlogger, were killed in another drug dealer crossfire while eating at a restaurant.
Last year, the US State Department issued a travel alert warning travelers to "exercise increased situational awareness" especially after dark, at Mexico's Caribbean beach resorts like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum.
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