In yet another tragic incident of violence in Mexico's resort town of Cancun, a 12-year-old boy has lost his life after gunmen on jet skis opened fire at a beach. Authorities have revealed that the gunmen were targeting a rival drug dealer on the beach and fled the scene after unleashing a barrage of bullets.

Mexican prosecutors issued a statement late Sunday, disclosing that the shooters were engaged in a heated dispute over drug sales. The young victim, a local resident, was lying on a lounge chair with his family when he was struck by stray bullets. He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries.

Expressing deep sadness over the tragic incident, a family acquaintance stated, "It is so sad that things like these happen."

The shooting occurred on Playa Caracol, near the Riu Cancun hotel, according to reports from Mexican newspaper El Universal. The hotel spokesperson confirmed that the victim was not a guest at the hotel and thankfully, no hotel guests were harmed during the shooting.

This unfortunate incident serves as a grave reminder of the territorial disputes between drug dealers that have claimed the lives of several tourists in the resorts along Mexico's Caribbean coast in recent years. In May, the remnants of violence linked to cartels were discovered in Acapulco, as ten bodies were found scattered throughout the once-glamorous resort city.

Acapulco, in particular, has been plagued by violence as witnessed in a shooting earlier this year where three individuals lost their lives, with one fleeing the scene by boat. In addition, two Canadians were killed in Playa del Carmen in 2022, presumably due to debts between international drug and weapons trafficking gangs. Moreover, in Tulum last year, a California travel blogger born in India and a German national were tragically killed when they became caught in the crossfire of a gunfight between rival drug dealers.

The shocking incident in Cancun serves as a somber wake-up call for authorities to address the escalating violence within the region. It is imperative that necessary steps are taken to secure the safety and well-being of both residents and tourists alike, as such incidents continue to tarnish the reputation of these popular Mexican resorts.