Tijuana municipal police arrested two men suspected of shooting another man in broad daylight in the city’s Zona Centro district on Tuesday afternoon. The incident, which unfolded around 3:00 p.m. near the intersection of Calle 2da (Benito Juárez) and Avenida Constitución, left one victim hospitalized and prompted a rapid police response through one of Tijuana’s most heavily trafficked commercial corridors.
Officers from the Dirección de Seguridad Ciudadana, Tijuana’s municipal public safety department, responded to reports of gunfire and found the victim with at least one gunshot wound. Emergency medical crews transported him to a nearby hospital. His condition has not been publicly disclosed. Police quickly identified two suspects fleeing the scene and detained them within blocks of the shooting.
Zona Centro Shootings Follow a Pattern of Daytime Violence in Tijuana
Zona Centro is one of Tijuana’s oldest and most commercially active neighborhoods. It sits immediately south of the San Ysidro border crossing, and thousands of pedestrians pass through its streets daily. The area draws cross-border shoppers, tourists visiting Avenida Revolución, patients headed to dental and medical clinics, and pharmacy customers. It also hosts a dense concentration of bars, hotels, and restaurants that cater to both locals and visitors.
Daytime shootings in this district are not unprecedented but remain alarming because of the foot traffic. Baja California recorded 1,480 homicides statewide in 2024, and Tijuana accounted for the majority of those cases. The city has consistently ranked among Mexico’s most violent municipalities for the past seven years. Much of that violence is linked to organized crime, though street-level disputes, robberies, and personal conflicts also contribute to the toll.
Tijuana’s municipal police force has operated under federal oversight at various points. The current administration of Mayor Ismael Burgueño has emphasized increased patrols in commercial zones. The city deployed additional officers to Zona Centro and the Revolución corridor in early 2025 as part of a broader public safety strategy. That deployment may have contributed to the speed of Tuesday’s arrests.
Still, Zona Centro continues to see periodic violent incidents. In March 2025, a separate shooting near Calle 3ra left two people injured. In late 2024, a stabbing on Avenida Constitución drew national attention. Each incident raises questions about whether increased patrols can adequately secure a district with so many access points and alleyways.
Calle 2da and Constitución Sit Steps From the Border Crossing
The intersection where Tuesday’s shooting occurred lies roughly 600 meters south of the PedWest pedestrian border crossing and about 800 meters from the main San Ysidro port of entry. Thousands of people cross on foot daily through these checkpoints. Many walk directly through Zona Centro to reach pharmacies, dentists, or restaurants on their way into or out of Tijuana.
Avenida Constitución runs parallel to Avenida Revolución, one block east. It is a major transit artery for taxis, buses, and rideshare vehicles. Calle 2da (officially named Benito Juárez) is a busy east-west commercial street lined with shops and food vendors. The combination of vehicle and pedestrian density in this area means that any shooting carries a high risk of bystander injury.
No bystanders were reported injured in Tuesday’s incident, and police have not disclosed a motive. The two detained suspects were turned over to the Fiscalía General del Estado (FGE), Baja California’s state attorney general’s office, which handles criminal prosecution. Weapons were recovered at the scene.
If you walk through Zona Centro regularly, the practical advice remains consistent with what local authorities and the U.S. Consulate in Tijuana have recommended for years: stay on main streets, avoid the area after dark, remain aware of your surroundings, and move away from any disturbance immediately. The U.S. Consulate’s most recent security alert for Tijuana, updated in January 2025, advises U.S. citizens to exercise increased caution in the municipality.
The FGE is expected to file formal charges against the two suspects within 48 hours, the standard window under Mexican federal law. The victim’s identity and condition have not been released. This story was first reported by Cadena Noticias.