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Five killed in shooting at Mexico’s BPM Festival

By Andy Malt | Published on Tuesday 17 January 2017

It has been confirmed that five people were killed and fifteen injured during a shooting incident at Mexico’s BPM Festival in the early hours of Monday morning. Four people – including three security staff – were shot dead, while a woman was killed in a stampede as people ran to escape.

The ten day festival, which takes place in beach town Playa Del Carmen’s various nightclubs, was drawing to a close when a lone gunman opened fire at the Blue Parrot venue. Initial rumours of a second incident at the event’s official closing party at another site turned out to be false.

“It is with great sadness to share that police have confirmed reports of a lone shooter outside the Blue Parrot nightclub in Playa Del Carmen earlier today, which resulted in four fatalities and twelve injured”, said organisers in a statement. “The violence began on 12th Street in front of the club and three members of the BPM security team were among those whose lives were lost while trying to protect patrons inside the venue”.

They continued: “The BPM Festival has been working closely with the local authorities throughout the festival to ensure public safety and security for all visitors. We are overcome with grief over this senseless act of violence and we are co-operating fully with local law enforcement and government officials as they continue their investigation”.

At a press conference yesterday, Miguel Angel Pech, the state attorney of Quintana Roo, in which Playa Del Carmen sits, said that a man, who is yet to be identified, attempted to enter the venue at around 2.30am, but was turned away because he was carrying a weapon. He then opened fired, and was “repelled” by the three security guards who were killed, who were also apparently armed. Pech added that the incident was not an act of terrorism.

One of the people who died has been named as Canadian security guard Kirk Wilson. In a statement, his employer INK Entertainment said: “Our team is overcome with grief over this terrible tragedy, and would like to express our sincerest condolences to his family and friends for their loss. Kirk will be missed by the entire INK team”.

Wilson had worked at a number of venues and music events, including touring with Nelly Furtado. Her guitarist Sean Kelly said on Facebook, according to Billboard: “This is just devastating … Kirk Wilson was a kind and beautiful soul, and a devoted family man. I had the great pleasure of working and travelling with Kirk, as he was part of the touring team for Nelly Furtado on security detail. Always smiling, positive, and concerned for the wellbeing of others. RIP my friend”.

In a TV interview following his press conference yesterday, Pech said that it had not been ruled out that the incident was related to a fight between criminal gangs or to an extortion racket.