STATE DEPARTMENT: THREE U.S. CITIZENS KILLED IN WEEKEND ENSENADA SHOOTOUT

Three U.S. citizens died during a shootout on Saturday at an off-road rally near Ensenada, a U.S. State Department official confirmed Tuesday.

On Saturday a confrontation began when armed men in a black Infinity van shot at a group of people who were gathering on the promenade. Gunfire was then returned.

The prosecutor’s office of Baja California attributed the violence to a confrontation between two organized crime groups. According to the initial investigation, prosecutors believe the target was Alonso Arámbula, known as “El Trébol,” who was killed inside his off-road vehicle, along with three other people, including a municipal leader from Ensenada.

The incident was captured on videos that circulated quickly online during the weekend.

The State Department said they are closely monitoring the local authorities’ investigation.

The agency said assistance is being provided to the families. “We offer our sincerest condolences to the families for the loss of their loved ones,” an official said.

In total, 10 people died, including one woman. Ten more were injured, three of whom were in serious condition as of Monday afternoon.

The Baja California Attorney General’s Office has not named seven of the 10 people killed.

The Baja California Forensic Medical Service identified nine of the victims by first name only: David, Roberto, Oscar, Leonardo, Josué, Lesly, Ángel and José, in addition to Arámbula. Another male has not yet been identified.

Baja California Attorney General Ricardo Iván Carpio confirmed on Monday that Roberto “Tito” Ayala, a San Diego resident, was among the victims killed.

Ayala’s family stated on a GoFundMe page that “he was an innocent bystander ... who unfortunately died running for his own life.”

Also on Monday, another GoFundMe page was created to help