MEXICO CITY - Fourteen people were killed and four others wounded in a violent clash that erupted on Friday between gunmen from a criminal gang and residents of a small farming community in central Mexico. The incident, which also left two people missing, occurred in the hamlet of Texcaltitlan, located approximately 80 miles (130 kilometers) southwest of Mexico City.

Dramatic footage of the confrontation circulated on social media, showing villagers armed with sickles and hunting rifles chasing down suspected gang members amidst the exchange of automatic gunfire. Some of the attackers were seen wearing military-style uniforms with helmets. Reports indicate that villagers set fire to the bodies and vehicles of the assailants.

According to state police in the State of Mexico, eleven of the deceased individuals were members of the criminal gang, while three were village residents. Though the police did not explicitly identify the gang involved, the notorious Familia Michoacana drug cartel has established a strong presence in the area over the past ten years.

Local media reports suggest that the clash may have been triggered by the Familia Michoacana cartel's demand for extortion payments from local farmers. Drug cartels in Mexico have been known to resort to violence, targeting commercial establishments or rural properties that refuse to comply with their financial demands.

The Familia Michoacana has gained notoriety for its audacious attacks on law enforcement. It is also associated with the 2022 massacre of twenty townspeople in Totolapan, a municipality in neighboring Guerrero state. Among the victims of that horrific incident were the town's mayor, his father, and eighteen other men.

Authorities have not provided immediate comments regarding the motive or specific circumstances leading to the clash. Investigations into the incident are ongoing, as the community mourns the loss of lives and tries to come to terms with the violent encounter that unfolded in their midst.

As Mexico continues to grapple with organized crime and its consequences, incidents like this serve as a grim reminder of the challenges faced by authorities and communities alike in the effort to maintain peace and security.