A 31-year-old American man was killed and seven others wounded Saturday night when a military patrol clashed with armed suspects on the La Paz-San José del Cabo highway near Los Cabos International Airport. The confrontation, which erupted around 11 p.m. in the Las Veredas neighborhood of San José del Cabo, has raised fresh security concerns in one of Baja California Sur’s most popular tourist corridors.
Mexican army soldiers spotted a group of heavily armed gunmen in several vehicles on Federal Highway 1 and engaged them, according to multiple reports. The American, from California, was traveling on the highway and was caught in the crossfire. He was transported to a local hospital, where he died hours later.
Civilians and Soldiers Among the Wounded
Five civilians were injured in the shooting: a 35-year-old man and a 43-year-old woman from Los Cabos, a 14-year-old boy from San José del Cabo, and a 65-year-old woman who suffered serious leg injuries. Two soldiers were also hit. One, a 20-year-old, remained in serious condition with life-threatening gunshot wounds. The other, 25, sustained injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
The gunmen fled the scene. Authorities seized four long guns, loaded magazines in 7.62×39 and 5.56 caliber, a grenade launcher with a grenade, two tactical vests, a communication radio, and 15 metallic tire-puncturing devices known as “ponchallantas,” which cartel operatives commonly deploy to prevent pursuit.
Follow-Up Raids Net More Weapons and Arrests
In a follow-up operation, state police arrested two suspects in San José del Cabo and raided a cartel safe house. Officers recovered additional weapons, drugs, and tactical gear at the location. The seizure of military-grade weaponry and the use of tire spikes point to organized criminal activity in the area.
Las Veredas is a lower-income residential neighborhood on the opposite side of the highway from Los Cabos International Airport, roughly 10 kilometers north of downtown San José del Cabo. The highway is the main artery connecting La Paz to the Los Cabos tourist zone, and thousands of travelers use it daily.
Part of a Growing Security Pattern
The shooting follows a pattern of escalating violence in the Los Cabos corridor. In April 2025, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City issued a security alert for Cabo San Lucas, San José del Cabo, and La Paz after a series of incidents that included a multi-neighborhood shootout in Cabo San Lucas, buses set on fire, and the killing of a law enforcement officer. The embassy advised travelers to avoid crowds and monitor local media.
Conventional crime has also risen in Los Cabos in recent months, including muggings, armed robberies, and residential burglaries. The incident was first reported by Noticias La Paz.