In what is being called a purposeful and premeditated attack, five police officers were killed in the coastal city of Guaymas, Sonora, on Thursday afternoon.
Four of the officers were part of a special operation that was out patrolling the streets around noon when armed men in two vehicles began shooting at them, according to a press release from the mayor of Guaymas.
The fifth casualty was an officer with the city’s department of transportation. He was allegedly shot while trying to detain the armed men after the first attack.
Three other police officers injured during the fray are in the hospital in stable condition.
Authorities in Guaymas did not respond to requests for an interview.
Guaymas has experienced an uptick in violence and disappearances in recent months. The U.S. State Department issued a statement in late July saying it had banned employees from visiting the area.