
(LibertySociety.com) – Authorities in Mexico are investigating the murders of two Americans from California, Gloria Ambriz, 50, and Rafael Cardona, 53, who were gunned down while on vacation in Michoacán. The couple, who had been visiting family, were shot while driving through the town of Angamacutiro on Wednesday night, according to officials.
The Michoacán State Attorney General’s Office reported that Ambriz and Cardona were traveling in a black 2016 Ford Platinum pickup truck when gunmen opened fire near an intersection. Ambriz was pronounced dead at the scene, while Cardona succumbed to his injuries shortly after being transported to a nearby hospital in Puruándiro.
Authorities have recovered ballistic evidence from the scene, which will be analyzed as part of the ongoing investigation. The attorney general’s office has assembled a team of prosecutors, forensic experts, and police officers to determine a motive and identify the perpetrators responsible for the killings.
The tragic deaths of Ambriz and Cardona have once again drawn attention to safety concerns for Americans traveling to certain regions of Mexico. The U.S. State Department lists Michoacán as a “do not travel” area due to widespread violent crime, including homicide, carjacking, and kidnapping. In its travel advisory, the department warns that U.S. government employees face restrictions in several Mexican states, limiting their ability to assist American citizens in emergencies.
“Violent crime—such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery—is widespread and common in Mexico,” the advisory states. “The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in many areas of Mexico, as travel by U.S. government employees to certain areas is prohibited or restricted.”
The couple’s unexpected deaths have left their California community and loved ones in shock. Friends and family remember Ambriz and Cardona as kind, hardworking individuals who were simply enjoying a vacation with their relatives.
While authorities continue to search for answers, the incident serves as a somber reminder of the risks travelers may face in regions known for organized crime and violence. The U.S. government urges Americans planning to visit Mexico to monitor travel advisories and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety.
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