Christian Rojas/AP Photo
- A gang-related shooting in Tulum on Wednesday left two tourists dead, the Associated Press reported.
- Three other tourists were also injured in the gangs' crossfire.
- A California-based, India-born travel blogger was one of the two killed.
Two tourists, including a California travel blogger, were killed and three more were injured during a shooting at a restaurant in Tulum, Mexico, on Wednesday, the Associated Press reported.
Authorities in the state of Quintana Roo identified the two women killed as Anjali Ryot, a San Jose resident born in India, and German national Jennifer Henzold, AP reported.
Two German men and a Dutch woman were also injured.
Initial investigations found the shooting was "an armed clash between criminal groups dedicated to the sale of drugs," local authorities said in a statement to France24.
France24 reported that Tulum Mayor Marciano Dzul said none of the victims had any connection to the shooters.
Dzul said one of the alleged shooters was arrested.
Ryot's Instagram account is now private, but the Guardian reported it featured photos and videos of her smiling in Tulum, a popular tourist destination for its ancient Mayan ruins.
The outlet reported that civic group Citizens Observatorio of Tulum posted images on Friday of a letter found at a local market that appeared to be a warning sign from a gang known as "Los Pelones," which roughly translates to "The Shaved Heads."
The letter reportedly said the shooting "was a warning, so you can see we mean business," according to the Guardian.
The AP reported that the German foreign office issued a travel advisory warning citizens in the area not to leave their secured hotels.