Californian gunned down in shootout with military at Mexican resort

A 31-year-old California man has died after he was caught in a shootout between armed civilians and Mexican soldiers in the popular resort town of San José del Cabo.

Mexican authorities say the man was one of several people, including bystanders and soldiers, who were injured on Saturday.

Soldiers were conducting an investigation in the area late Saturday before hearing gunshots. They “conducted a reconnaissance patrol,” according to the Baja California government, and they located “a group of armed individuals in various vehicles near the town of Santa Anita.”

Those individuals, unclear if they were cartel members, fired on the soldiers. The resulting shootout resulted in the death of the California man, injuries to two soldiers, a 65-year-old woman, a 14-year-old boy, a 36-year-old man and a 43-year-old woman.

Two soldiers took “defensive positions” during the shootout near a pickup truck “riddled with bullet holes,” according to ABC News.

Authorities seized high-caliber firearms, two tactical vests, a radio, two vehicles, and several “tire spikes.”

They said the assailants were able to flee from the scene.

The California man was traveling with other civilians in a personal vehicle when the shootout happened, ABC News reported.

Mexican officials say the investigation into the crime is ongoing.

“The State Security Council reports that security and search efforts are ongoing in the municipality of Los Cabos, with the aim of locating and arresting those responsible for these events, reiterating its commitment to continue working in a coordinated manner to safeguard the population,” they wrote.

It’s unclear who the California man is.

San José del Cabo is a popular resort city located in Baja California. The State Department has issued a “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution” advisory for the region, a lower grade than other parts of Mexico.

The California Post reached out to the State Department for comment.

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