American couple gunned down in Mexico while on vacation amid wave of violence

[KARAH RUCKER]

AUTHORITIES SAY GUNMEN IN WESTERN MEXICO SHOT AND KILLED AN AMERICAN COUPLE IN THEIR CAR AS THEY WERE VISITING FAMILY FOR A HOLIDAY VACATION.

THE MURDERS ARE ANOTHER SETBACK TO PRESIDENT CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM’S ONGOING EFFORTS TO CURB VIOLENCE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

IT’S UNCLEAR WHY THE MARRIED COUPLE WAS TARGETED BUT THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTS THE PAIR WERE THE BROTHER AND SISTER-IN-LAW OF THE LOCAL MAYOR.

BOTH WERE RESIDENTS OF CALIFORNIA.

THE U-S GOVERNMENT SAYS IT’S “AWARE OF THE SITUATION” AND TRACKING IT CLOSELY.

THE ATTACK UNFOLDING IN ONE OF THE MOST VIOLENT REGIONS OF MEXICO… THE MICHOACAN [MEESH-OH-WALK-IN] STATE, WHICH HAS BEEN PLAGUED BY MURDERS, ABDUCTIONS AND DRUG-TRAFFICKING.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, GUNMEN ASSASSINATED A POLICE CHIEF IN THE STATE AND A FORMER MAYOR WAS KIDNAPPED.

SHE REMAINS MISSING.

SHEINBAUM’S FIRST FEW MONTHS IN OFFICE HAVE BEEN MARRED BY CARTEL VIOLENCE, INCLUDING THE BEHEADING OF A MAYOR IN NORTHERN MEXICO IN OCTOBER AND THE DEADLY SHOOTING OF MIGRANTS BY MEXICAN SOLDIERS.

SHEINBAUM MET WITH SECURITY OFFICIALS EARLIER THIS WEEK IN ACAPULCO TO DISCUSS WAYS TO COMBAT A WAVE OF VIOLENT CRIME.

THE NEXT DAY A HIGH-RANKING JUDGE WAS GUNNED DOWN IN HIS CAR IN THE CITY.

POLICE ARE STILL INVESTIGATING THE ASSASINATION.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M KARAH RUCKER.