A man was shot in the head Monday afternoon inside a boardinghouse in Tijuana’s Mesa de Otay delegation, leaving him in critical condition. The shooting took place at the intersection of Guanajuatense and Segunda Sur streets in the Colonia Del Río neighborhood.
Neighbors reported hearing gunshots and found the victim with a serious head wound. Red Cross paramedics arrived and transported the man to a hospital under police escort. His identity and current condition have not been publicly released.
Police and Army Cordon Off the Scene
Municipal police and Mexican Army units quickly cordoned off the area around the boardinghouse, known locally as a “cuartería.” These low-cost multi-room dwellings are common in working-class Tijuana neighborhoods and house renters who often pay by the week.
State prosecutors from the Fiscalía General del Estado (FGE) processed the crime scene. Investigators are reviewing surveillance camera footage from nearby properties to identify the shooter or shooters. As of the latest reports, no arrests have been made.
Mesa de Otay: Geography and Context
Mesa de Otay sits in Tijuana’s eastern corridor, just south of the Otay Mesa Port of Entry that connects to San Diego. The Colonia Del Río area is a residential zone with a mix of small businesses, houses, and rental properties. It is located roughly three miles south of the border crossing.
The shooting adds to a string of armed attacks in residential Tijuana neighborhoods in recent weeks. Shootings in populated colonias can occur at any hour and often involve targeted victims, though investigators have not released a motive in this case.
Tijuana’s homicide rate has remained among the highest in Mexico for several years. The city recorded more than 1,500 homicides in 2024, according to state attorney general figures, and gun violence continues to affect neighborhoods across all delegations.
Anyone with information about the shooting can contact the FGE’s anonymous tip line at 089. The incident was first reported by Punto Norte.