Seven Killed in Guatemala Funeral Home Gang Shooting
Guatemala City
At least seven people were killed and 13 injured in a shooting at a funeral home in Guatemala City on late Tuesday. The attack is linked to gang violence, officials confirmed.
The shooting happened during the wake of a Barrio 18 gang member who had been killed the day before. Interior Minister Francisco Jimenez said rival gang members from Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) entered the funeral and opened fire on the mourners.
The attackers arrived on motorcycles and fled after the shooting. Some of the wounded were found outside the funeral home. Police sealed off the area while forensic teams recovered the bodies.
Jimenez blamed the violent gang rivalry between Barrio 18 and MS-13 for the incident. He called it “unacceptable” that police assigned to guard the high-risk wake had left their posts. He said those officers will face investigation and possible legal action.
Both gangs are known for extortion, violence, and killing civilians who refuse to pay them. The gangs are fighting over territory and are considered major threats to public safety. Mara Salvatrucha, originally formed in Los Angeles, is labeled a terrorist group by the United States.
Guatemala ended 2024 with a homicide rate of 16.1 per 100,000 people — double the global average, though lower than the 2014 rate of 29.6.
Authorities say that around half of Guatemala’s violent crimes are linked to gang disputes and drug cartel activities. Gang violence also affects nearby countries like El Salvador, where a crackdown has led to thousands of arrests.