Massacre in Michoacán: hitmen execute 20 people during a cockfighting event

The Michoacán Prosecutor's Office says it was informed of an "aggression perpetrated against the attendees of a cockfight" that was being held in the town of Las Tinajas, and upon arriving at the scene found "19 lifeless bodies (16 men and three women). It later confirmed that another man died while being transported for medical attention.

A massacre at a cockfighting venue, attributed to clashes between organized crime gangs, left at least 20 people dead in the western Mexican state of Michoacán, authorities said Monday. The shootings broke out Sunday night at a cockfight arena in the town of Tinajas, a venue for cockfights, concerts, and popular dances.

"It was a massacre of one group against another in a clandestine venue where they were and they came and shot the attendees and unfortunately there were many dead," said Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Monday. "A team (from the government) has already left for there, for the investigation and to attend to the issue", added the president in his usual morning conference.

In a video recorded by a resident, the gunshots can be heard. A truck can also be seen crossing the access road to the square. "My God, there's a shooting here where they do the dances, it's horrible," said a woman in an anguished voice in the recording posted on Facebook.

"You hear a lot of screams, insults," she adds, as she recounts the flight of people towards the upper part of the sector amid the darkness. The Michoacán Prosecutor's Office announced in a statement the discovery of 19 bodies (16 men and three women), which "presented wounds caused by gunshot wounds".

It later confirmed that another man died while being transported for medical attention. It also added that five other people were wounded and were taken to hospitals.