CHICAGO — A 14-year-old Chicago boy is in a Mexican hospital fighting for his life following a horrific shooting that killed his father, uncle, and a family friend during a birthday trip to Durango.
The tragic incident occurred as the boy’s family, who live in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood, was celebrating his birthday.
According to the boy’s grandmother, gunmen targeted the group while they were driving an SUV with Illinois license plates down the Francisco Zarco Highway in Santiago Papasquiaro, Durango.
Victims of the attack include 38-year-old Vicente Peña Jr., 44-year-old Antonio “Tony” Fernandez, both from Chicago, and 22-year-old Jorge Eduardo Vargas Aguirre.
The teen, who was injured in the attack, is still hospitalized in Mexico while his family works to bring him back to Chicago for specialized medical care.
United Giving Hope, a nonprofit organization, has stepped in to help the family transport the boy home. Meanwhile, the bereaved relatives are seeking answers from Mexican authorities about the circumstances of the attack.
Durango officials describe the shooting as part of a troubling increase in violent crime in the area. The United States State Department has issued travel warnings for the area, warning against gang-related violence.
Despite the issuance of travel advisories, information about the attack remains scarce. Officials have yet to determine what caused the violence, leaving the family and community seeking justice and closure.
