**Gunmen Storm Hospital in Mexico, Kill Three Including Two Police Officers**

In a chilling event Monday, armed individuals invaded a hospital in Atlixco, Mexico, fatally shooting a patient and two police officers who tried to intervene. The tragic incident unfolded when assailants targeted a man recovering from a gunshot wound, firing more than 10 times and causing his immediate death. The Puebla state's public security secretariat reported the police officers were killed on the spot while attempting to thwart the gunmen's escape.

According to Puebla security secretary Daniel Ivan Cruz, the victim had initially entered the hospital early Sunday morning by himself, seeking treatment for a gunshot wound incurred during a gathering. Less than 24 hours later, the same man was violently attacked inside the medical facility. Cruz highlighted the response of local law enforcement, stating that "after hearing the emergency call and arriving at the scene, the police came under fire and died on the spot."

Investigations are underway to ascertain if the approximately 30-year-old victim was involved in any illegal activities, authorities said. Atlixco, known for its appeal as a tourist destination, especially during the Day of the Dead festival, has seen escalating violence disrupting its serene image.

This incident is part of a broader pattern of brutality that has plagued Puebla before. In April, seven bodies were discovered in the state, five of which were decapitated with another completely dismembered. The bodies were found in a car left in the middle of a busy expressway, each accompanied by a message. In 2022, gunmen "executed" nine individuals in a house attack in Atlixco.

Across Mexico, violence has surged significantly since 2006, with more than 450,000 people murdered, often linked to drug trafficking and gang wars. On the same Monday, gunmen in a suburb of Acapulco killed five members of a family and wounded two others in an attack mentioned by local prosecutors. The southern state of Guerrero, home to Acapulco, has long been riddled with violent turf wars between drug cartels.

Furthermore, Guanajuato state's city of Leon saw the gunning down of a local leader of the "La Santa Muerte" cult on Friday. The attack at an altar to the folk saint left two others dead and injured eight people, underscoring the pervasive and relentless violence gripping various regions of the country.