Gunmen killed a Baja California state security agent inside a commercial establishment in Tijuana’s Guaycura neighborhood on Sunday, April 12. A woman was also wounded in the attack.
The victim was identified as Silvano Méndez Aguilar, an agent of the Fuerza Estatal de Seguridad Ciudadana (FESC), the state’s primary law enforcement body. He was assigned to the Violeta Squadron, a specialized unit within the Secretaría de Seguridad y Protección Ciudadana that focuses on gender-based violence and protection of vulnerable populations.
Two Gunmen Opened Fire, Then Fled on Foot
According to preliminary reports, two suspects approached on foot and opened fire directly at Méndez Aguilar, approximately 35 years old, inside an establishment called “Tecate” shortly after 11:00 a.m. The attackers then fled through nearby market stalls.
A woman, reported to be approximately 52 years old, was also struck by gunfire. She was taken to a hospital for treatment and is believed to have been a bystander caught in the crossfire.
Méndez Aguilar received medical attention but died at an IMSS (Mexican Social Security Institute) hospital. Authorities have not announced any arrests in connection with the shooting.
Nine Homicides in Under 24 Hours
Multiple security agencies responded to the scene, including Tijuana municipal police, the FESC, the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI, the state investigative agency), the Guardia Nacional, and personnel from the Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional (Sedena), Mexico’s defense ministry.
The Baja California Secretaría de Seguridad Ciudadana condemned the killing in an official statement, calling it a “cowardly attack” against their colleague. The state attorney general’s office has opened an investigation.
Méndez Aguilar’s death brought the homicide count in Tijuana to nine in fewer than 24 hours, according to Semanario Zeta. The killing of a state agent assigned to a unit dedicated to protecting vulnerable populations has drawn particular attention in a city already grappling with persistent violence.
The FESC has faced repeated attacks on its personnel. In April 2025, an escaped American convict fatally shot a FESC liaison commander in Tijuana, prompting a major binational manhunt before the suspect was captured days later in the Lomas del Matamoros neighborhood.
This story was first reported by Semanario Zeta, with additional details from Infobae and El Imparcial.