Yuma Man Killed in Cross-Border Shooting in San Luis Río Colorado, Mexico; 1-Year-Old Found Unharmed in SUV

SAN LUIS RÍO COLORADO, Sonora, Mexico — June 20, 2025 — A cross-border tragedy is under investigation this week after a 30-year-old Yuma, Arizona man was fatally shot shortly after entering San Luis Río Colorado, a Mexican city just across the U.S.-Mexico border. The violent incident, which took place near a commercial district, has drawn the attention of multiple law enforcement agencies on both sides of the border.

According to the Sonoran Attorney General’s Office, the shooting occurred on Monday, along Avenida Internacional, between Calle 5 and Calle 6, a stretch of road commonly used by travelers and locals moving between Sonora and Arizona. The victim, identified by Mexican officials as Marco Antonio “N,” was reportedly behind the wheel of a dark gray Jeep Cherokee SUV when he was ambushed by several armed suspects.

Witnesses and investigators say the gunmen opened fire on Marco Antonio as he appeared to be preparing to return to the United States. The barrage of bullets left him fatally wounded inside the vehicle. Authorities recovered 14 spent 9mm shell casings at the scene, indicating a coordinated and rapid attack.

In a chilling detail, a 1½-year-old child was discovered unharmed in the backseat of the SUV following the shooting. Mexican prosecutors have not disclosed the child’s relationship to the victim, but authorities confirmed the infant was turned over to child protective services for care and evaluation.

Investigators from the Sonoran State Prosecutor’s Office, along with Mexican federal authorities, are working to determine the motive behind the killing. U.S. agencies are reportedly cooperating in the investigation due to the victim’s identity and background.

Officials also confirmed that Marco Antonio had a known history of arms trafficking in the United States and was on parole since September 2023. That background has raised speculation that the attack may be linked to criminal activity involving weapons or organized crime along the U.S.-Mexico border. However, no suspects have been publicly identified or apprehended as of Friday.

Authorities are exploring several theories, including whether Marco Antonio was targeted due to past dealings, or if the killing was connected to ongoing territorial disputes among criminal groups in Sonora. The region has seen a rise in cartel-related violence in recent years, particularly in strategic border cities like San Luis Río Colorado.

The scene of the shooting, located just blocks from the border crossing and in close proximity to busy shopping areas, has also raised concerns among residents and travelers about safety in the region.

This is not the first high-profile case of violence involving Americans in Mexico’s border towns. It adds to growing concerns about cross-border crime, arms trafficking, and the safety of U.S. citizens traveling into Mexico for commerce, family visits, or tourism.

Authorities on both sides of the border are urging anyone with information about the shooting to come forward. In Mexico, tips can be reported anonymously to the Sonoran State Prosecutor’s Office, while in the United States, information may be shared with Homeland Security Investigations or the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

As of now, the investigation is ongoing, and officials have not released further details about potential suspects or motives. The child found at the scene remains in protective custody, and efforts are being made to notify and support the victim’s family in Arizona.

The violent and sudden nature of Marco Antonio’s death serves as yet another stark reminder of the risks posed by organized crime networks operating along the U.S.-Mexico border — and the innocent lives that are too often caught in the crossfire.