Mayor's Father Attacked by Gunmen in Mexico

In a brazen attack on Monday afternoon, two gunmen attempted to kidnap Luis Carlos Pena Garza, the father of the mayor of Reynosa, Tamaulipas. The incident unfolded outside a convenience store in the Longoria neighborhood, where Pena Garza had just parked his vehicle. Despite the assailants' efforts, Pena Garza resisted the kidnapping attempt, prompting the gunmen to flee in a blue Nissan Sentra while firing shots during their escape. Authorities reported that Pena Garza pursued the assailants in his own vehicle, ramming their car twice before the situation escalated. Local law enforcement was alerted via a 911 call, and the crime scene was subsequently documented. Reynosa's Mayor Carlos Victor Pena Ortiz arrived promptly to coordinate with security officials regarding the alarming incident, which highlights ongoing security concerns in the region. This attack occurs amid claims from Tamaulipas state officials asserting that the area is safe, despite a series of high-profile kidnappings in recent weeks. Reports indicate that U.S. citizens and residents have been targeted, with gunmen abducting individuals from passenger buses and demanding ransoms. Families have resorted to social media to seek assistance from the Gulf Cartel, as local authorities have struggled to provide adequate support. The Tamaulipas government has dismissed travel alerts regarding safety concerns, arguing that they are based on hearsay rather than statistical evidence, which they claim shows the state is nearly crime-free.