Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash

A four-year-old boy and his father have been shot dead after they drove past hitmen escaping from the murder of two clandestine beer sellers.

Several states in Mexico impose restrictions or even a complete ban on the sale of alcohol including beer, which has fuelled the illegal and unlicensed sale of alcohol, with criminal gangs fighting for a share of the lucrative business.

The killing of the father and son took place after midnight in the Industrial neighbourhood of the municipality of Caborca, in the northern Mexican state of Sonora on Monday, 16th November.

According to local newspaper La Silla Rota, a group of hitmen had driven to a house located in the neighbourhood to shoot and kill two men, identified by authorities as Rigoberto Paez, alias El Rigo and the other man identified only by his alias El Guero.

According to national newspaper Excelsior, the two men worked in the clandestine sale of beer for a rival organisation to the gang which had organised the hitmen.

As they were leaving the crime scene after having completed their task of killing the two men, they were disturbed by the arrival of a Honda Civic car with five people travelling home.

The hitmen reportedly fired shots at the vehicle for unknown reasons.

Four-year-old Tadeo Bernabe and his father, Armando Carrillo, 23, both died from their injuries.

Two young women aged 19 and 20, identified as Yulisa and Karime, and a 42-year-old man named Felipe, were also travelling in the car and sustained injuries, but are reportedly stable.

Police and prosecution arrived at the scene shortly afterwards to investigate and found at least 55 bullet cartridges.

The mayor of Caborca, Librado Macias, posted a message about the incident on his social media saying: “I want to send condolences to the families, although I know this will not undo what has happened, we are going to do our best to ask for the proper support from the authorities.”

La Silla Rota reported that the mayor had sent a letter to the state and federal government in order to ask for help due to the armed confrontations and attacks between rival gangs operating in the area.

Caborca is located inside the Desert of Altar, which is near the border with the United States. The Caborca cartel, led by Caro Quintero and members belonging to Sinaloa Cartel are fighting to get control of the area.

The municipality has reported a recent rise in armed confrontations, kidnappings, shootings at houses and daylight executions.

Due to the violent incident on Monday, the Municipal Secretariat of Public Security has asked residents to stay at home between 11 pm and 5 am.

The investigation is ongoing and so far no arrests have been made.

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