Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: CEN
Video Credit: CEN
This is the moment a professional bodyguard fights back against an armed mob defending his businessman boss who is still alive despite being hit 14 times by the assassins.
The shocking incident was caught on CCTV cameras at the Torre Lucerna Hotel in the port city of Ensenada, in the north-western Mexican state of Baja California.
The footage shows businessman Ricardo Madrid Rivas, 35, and three bodyguards getting out of a white Chevrolet Suburban SUV when they come under attack.
Suddenly, a white Chevrolet Aveo car squeals to a halt in front of them and and a group of armed men jump out and start shooting at them.
Pictures Credit: CEN
Mr Madrid Rivas falls to the ground next to the vehicle while the two bodyguards who were by this point on the road, retreat, one of them makes a stand behind a white pick-up truck and then crouches in the road in the line of fire to shoot back – only taking cover to change his magazine clip before returning to the gunfight.
The footage is unclear but it is believed the third bodyguard was in the front passenger seat of the car and also returned fire.
The businessman is seen trying to protect himself as one of the gunmen approaches to finish him off but his bodyguards manage to drive the men away with their shots.
The attackers finally jump back into their car and drive off but Mr Madrid Rivas had been shot 14 times in his stomach and pelvic region.
One of his bodyguards, named as Antonio Sanchez Jimenez, was shot twice in the stomach and once in the leg while another, Erick de Jesus Cruz Munoz, was shot in the left leg.
All three were rushed by ambulance to a private hospital where doctors are fighting to save the life of Mr Madrid Rivas. His bodyguards are both said to be out of danger.
A spokesman for the Torre Lucerna Hotel said the hotel regretted the incident had happened on its premises and promised to help the police in their ongoing investigation.
Ensenada lies just 108 kilometres (67 miles) from the US border and is a popular tourist destination for visitors arriving by road and by boat. Baja California is one of the strongholds of the notorious Sinaloa Cartel.