During a family vacation in Durango, Mexico, an ambush resulted in the death of three people and left a 14-year-old boy battling for his life. The incident occurred near the town of Las Palmas in the municipality of Santiago Papasquiaro.
The family from Chicago, Illinois, led by Vicente Peña Jr., was visiting relatives for the holidays. The unfortunate events unfolded during this time.
Peña, his brother Antonio Fernandez, and a 22-year-old Mexican resident, Jorge Eduardo Vargas Aguirre, were the victims of the fatal shooting. The only survivor of the attack, Peña’s 14-year-old son, Jason, was critically wounded.
Julia Contreras of United Giving Hope, a non-profit supporting the family, reached out to the U.S. State Department to facilitate the return of the surviving boy and family members to the United States. She said, “As you can only imagine, this is a nightmare for his mother. And right now, what we’re trying to do is provide that advocacy and security.”
Maria Elena Hernandez, the teenager’s grandmother, spoke to WLS through a translator about the distressing phone call from her daughter, who shared news of the tragedy. Hernandez was in Chicago, Illinois, at the time of the incident.
Vicente Peña, the boy’s grandfather, labeled the incident a “massacre” in his conversation with WMAQ-TV. The deeply affected grandfather, speaking in Spanish, stated his son was “shot four times in the head.”
Contreras, the family spokesperson, explained that the ambush took place when Jason’s father, uncle Antonio Fernández, and Jorge Eduardo Vargas Aguirre left to buy supplies and did not return. The authorities, alerted by the boy’s grandfather, found their SUV with Illinois plates and the three men fatally shot.
Jason was first treated at local facilities before being airlifted to Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston. His mother, who chose to remain anonymous due to security concerns, was with him during this time.
The U.S. Embassy in Mexico has confirmed the death of two Americans in Santiago Papasquiaro and the injury of a minor in the incident. While providing support to the victims’ families, they continue to work with Mexican authorities in Durango, who are conducting the ongoing investigation.
The incident happened against the backdrop of rising violent crime in Durango and other parts of Mexico. The U.S. State Department has issued a travel advisory warning Americans to exercise caution due to prevalent violent crime in the region.
The Durango Attorney General’s Office revealed on Monday, January 6, 2025, that Iram Uranga Armendariz has been formally charged in connection with the attack. Armendariz received a prison sentence of 66 years, 7 months, and 9 days. The incident reportedly targeted men accused of failing to pay Armendariz $250,000 for a land purchase.
The mother of the surviving teen initiated a SpotFund campaign revealing the family had traveled to Durango, Mexico, to celebrate her son’s birthday and visit relatives. The campaign has raised over $25,000, above its goal of $25,000.