Fatal Shooting Reported at Tehmplo Tulum

One person was killed in a shooting at Tehmplo Tulum on Jan. 8, according to local news outlet Quintana Roo Ahora. The shooting reportedly occurred during an event headlined by Solomun, per EDM Train. 

Authorities have not yet confirmed the total number of deaths or injuries resulting from the shooting at Tehmplo, a popular dance/electronic music venue located in Tulum’s jungle.

“The night was shattered by the crack of 9-millimeter bullets during the Tehmplo electronic music festival, held at the intersection of Kukulkán Avenue and the coastal highway, right before the stunned eyes of thousands of domestic and international tourists,” Quintana Roo Ahora wrote in a Jan. 9 tweet. 

Attendees shared firsthand accounts on Reddit and Facebook, describing panic and confusion inside the venue. 

“I was trying to leave the venue when we heard multiple gunshots, then minutes later saw armed police coming in,” one said. “I’m still processing it happened.”

“I had just come out of Solomun, and in the middle of the party we saw a stampede of people running in fear. A lot of confusion and chaos, but the music never stopped,” another wrote in Spanish.

The shooting took place one day after the municipal government, led by Diego Castañón, announced what it described as a “historic achievement”: two months without homicides, according to Quintana Roo Ahora. The outlet alleges that concerns over potential impacts on tourism during Tulum’s peak season, which runs from December through April, contributed to an initial lack of official communication about the incident.

“Beyond the crime itself, what sparked the most outrage was the authorities’ response,” reported Quintana Roo Ahora. “For several hours, the government apparatus stayed silent about what happened, presumably to keep the homicide from tarnishing the destination’s image during peak season. The music kept playing while the killing was, in effect, swept under the rug. However, the official version didn’t hold up. Through social media, mainly Facebook, testimonies and reports from attendees began circulating, finally forcing the authorities to confirm the murder.”

This is a developing story. Information may change as authorities release additional details.