Seven Killed, 13 Injured in Gang-Linked Funeral Attack in Guatemala City

Last Updated:July 30, 2025, 13:46 IST

Municipal spokesperson Amilcar Montejo confirmed that gunmen arrived on motorcycles and opened fire inside the facility.

Members of the Public Prosecutor's Office look for evidences next to a crime scene where seven people were killed in an attacked. (AFP)

At least seven people were killed and 13 others injured in a brutal armed attack at a funeral in Guatemala City on Tuesday, in what authorities have described as another outbreak of gang-related violence in the capital.

According to Guatemala’s Interior Minister Francisco Jimenez, the incident is suspected to be the result of an ongoing turf war between the country’s most notorious criminal groups — Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13). The attack took place during a wake held at a local funeral home for a person who was shot dead on Monday in a separate gang-related incident.

“While the wake was taking place, rival gang members from Mara Salvatrucha stormed the funeral home and opened fire on the family and companions of the deceased," Jimenez said in a public statement.

Municipal spokesperson Amilcar Montejo confirmed that gunmen arrived on motorcycles and opened fire inside the facility. “Seven people died on the spot and 13 were left wounded," he said. Some of the injured victims were discovered just meters from the building, suggesting they had tried to flee or were caught in the chaos outside.

The attackers fled the scene immediately, prompting authorities to cordon off the area. Forensic teams have since recovered the bodies as police continue investigating the scene.

Jimenez revealed that the wake had been flagged as a “high-risk" event due to the criminal background of the deceased. However, in a shocking lapse, police officers assigned to monitor the area reportedly abandoned their posts prior to the attack. “This is unacceptable," said the minister, adding that the officers will face investigation by the internal affairs unit.

Guatemala has long struggled with high levels of gang violence. The country closed 2024 with a homicide rate of 16.1 per 100,000 people — still twice the global average, though significantly improved from 29.6 in 2014. Authorities estimate that nearly 50% of all violent crimes are linked to organized crime, including drug trafficking and territorial disputes between gangs.

Abhro Banerjee

Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ...Read More

Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ...

Read More

Location :

First Published:

News world Seven Killed, 13 Injured in Gang-Linked Funeral Attack in Guatemala City

Read More