5 Dead After Shooting, Stampede in Mexican Resort Town

It's not clear whether gunman has been caught
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jan 16, 2017 1:12 PM CST
5 Dead After Shooting, Stampede in Mexican Resort Town
Roses lay outside the Blue Parrot nightclub after a shooting in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. A deadly shooting occurred in the early morning hours outside the nightclub while it was hosting part of the BPM electronic music festival, according to police.    (Uncredited)

Gunfire broke out in a crowded beachfront nightclub throbbing with electronic music before dawn Monday, causing five deaths and setting off a bloody stampede by screaming concertgoers at an international festival in the Caribbean resort town of Playa del Carmen, Mexico, the AP reports. At least one person died in the crush to escape and some of the 15 people wounded or injured were hurt in the rush out, authorities said. Quintana Roo state Attorney General Miguel Angel Pech ruled out any terror attack, and the state's governor said it involved a personal dispute. Pech said the shooting erupted when security personnel tried to stop a man from entering the Blue Parrot club with a gun. Three of those killed were part of the security detail at the 10-day BPM electronic music festival, Pech said. State officials said the dead included two Canadians, an Italian and a Colombian. The gunman apparently fled.

Pech said the 15 people with injuries included a Mexican woman who was seriously injured. He said eight of the injured, including two US citizens, were treated at hospitals and released. Canada's Global Affairs office confirmed at least one Canadian died and said it was investigating the other reported fatality. It said at least two Canadians were injured. Italy's Foreign Ministry confirmed one of its citizens died. The shooting occurred near the largest exit, setting off chaos as concert goers had to scramble over a metal fence to escape to the beach. Pech said the gunman himself apparently escaped, though three people had been detained nearby. It was not known if they had been involved in the shooting. "We know of another shooting incident that occurred near the nightclub, but we are investigating whether that is related" to the deadly shooting, Pech said. (More Mexico stories.)

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