A gunman posing as a delivery rider shot and killed the owner of a Thrifty Ice Cream franchise inside his shop on Friday afternoon in Tijuana’s La Mesa neighborhood. The shooting took place at a commercial plaza on Bulevar Rosas Magallón, just steps from the Margarito Saldaña Police Command station.
The victim was eating at one of the shop’s signature red tables when a man arrived on a white motorcycle, entered the store, and opened fire. Authorities have not publicly identified the victim. A suspect was arrested shortly after the shooting near Plaza Pacífico, located on the same boulevard.
Gunman Disguised as Delivery Rider
According to initial reports, the shooter wore a disguise consistent with food delivery workers, a common sight on Tijuana streets. The tactic allowed him to approach the shop without raising suspicion. State homicide investigators processed the crime scene and recovered ballistic evidence.
The killing occurred during Holy Week, a period when police typically increase patrols across Tijuana. The proximity of the crime scene to a police command station made the brazen daylight attack all the more striking. La Mesa is a heavily trafficked commercial district in Tijuana’s central zone, home to shopping plazas, restaurants, and family businesses.
Quick Arrest May Point to Targeted Attack
The rapid detention of a suspect near Plaza Pacífico, a well-known shopping center roughly two kilometers east on Bulevar Rosas Magallón, could indicate that investigators had specific leads. The speed of the arrest and the calculated nature of the attack point toward a targeted killing rather than a random act of violence.
Thrifty Ice Cream is a Southern California brand that traces its roots to 1940. It expanded into Mexico through independent franchise operators and now has more than 200 locations across the country. The Tijuana shop on Bulevar Rosas Magallón is one of several Thrifty locations in the city and is popular with local families. The brand is recognizable to many cross-border residents and visitors from San Diego County.
Extortion of small business owners remains a persistent problem in Tijuana. Authorities have not confirmed a motive in this case, and the investigation is ongoing.
The incident was first reported by Punto Norte.