At least 11 people died after Mexican drug cartels engaged in a shootout at an illegal horse racing event in Chihuahua, Mexico.

According to Mexico News Daily, the confrontation took place around 7 p.m. on Sunday at a secret horse racing track in El Sauz, a community in the city of Chihuahua.

Border Report reported that five adult males died on the scene while 10 other men and women sustained gunshot wounds. Ana Antillon, a spokeswoman for the Chihuahua Public Safety Secretary, said six of those who sustained gunshot wounds succumbed to their injuries late Sunday or early Monday.

According to Borderland Beat, photos taken at the scene showed multiple bodies of deceased men lying on the ground who had suffered gunshot injuries. The outlet reported that some of the deceased men were lying on the actual dirt on the racetrack.

Authorities did not mention the names of the deceased found on the scene, but they claimed that they were between 35 to 55 years old.

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Witnesses Say Rival Mexican Drug Cartels Present on the Horse Race Track in Mexico

Some witnesses told a local newspaper that rival Mexican drug cartels "ran into each other" at the race. A witness said the shooting erupted in the middle of the competition.

Mexico News Daily reported that the horse racing event on Sunday was illegal. Security Minister Gilberto Loya on Monday said that horse races, just like in El Sauz, were not authorized by the authority.

El Heraldo de Chihuahua reported that Sunday's race was promoted as a family event, and alcohol was prohibited in the venue. However, attendees were reportedly drinking, and some even consumed illegal drugs.

Authorities recovered five vehicles, one motorcycle, and a trailer with a horse from the scene. Some of these vehicles were reportedly damaged by gunshots. 

The Chihuahua Attorney General's Office said hundreds of .223-caliber and 7.62mm bullet casings were also recovered, and these bullets are usually associated with AR-15 and AK-47 rifles.

As of Monday, authorities said no suspects were in custody. They also declined to disclose a motive for the shooting. A state official told El Heraldo that the horse track lacked permits and that its operators may be fined $5,000.

Mexican Drug Cartels in Chihuahua, Mexico

Borderland Beat reported that Sinaloa Cartel and La Linea cartel are suspected to be involved in the shootout. According to the outlet, Mexico's state of Chihuahua has been in a territorial dispute between the two Mexican drug cartels in the last five years.

Wavy reported that La Linea is a former group of the Juarez Cartel and is fighting the Sinaloa Cartel for smuggling routes in the U.S. La Linea is believed to be led by Jesus Salas Aguayo, alias "El Chuyin."

According to Borderland Beat, the Sinaloa Cartel has subgroups near the proximity of El Sauz. The group is known as Los Salazars.

Two other Sinaloa groups also control areas near El Sauz, which included the Gente Nueva del Tigre led by Edgar Alfredo Gamboa Sosa, alias "El Tigre Blanco" and Raul Gamboa Sosa, alias "El Cabo."

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Joshua Summers

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