Two weeks ago, a young man fired on police after officers tried to pull him over. "Those guys were on a mission and serious about who they were going after.". The U.S. Government would issue travel warnings for Mexico including Rocky Point. For questions about programming, membership or anything else about KJZZ, please visit kjzz.org/contact. or. and last updated 2020-06-19 18:38:58-04. Rocky Point is opening for tourism amid COVID-19 pandemic, and is causing some concern. We recommend that tourists visiting Mexico stay at their hotel or resort grounds after dark and avoid drinking to excess or using drugs. Rocky Point is opening for tourism amid COVID-19 pandemic, and is causing some concern. Rocky Point aka Puerto Penasco is only a 4 hour drive from Phoenix and our closest beach. My wife is scared out of her mind that we are going to end up being hurt, so after the second time today, we are packing it up and heading home with another 4 days paid for our condo. What's more, it's a good idea to avoid going onto the beach after dark. By Wednesday afternoon the consul was advising people to stay indoors if they hear gunfire. Create New Account. The U.S. Department of State has issued warnings advising against travel to five Mexican states: Colima, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and … Mexican marines patrol the beach of Playacar, near the seaside tourist resort of Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo State, on Feb. 14. Copyright © 2021 KJZZ/Rio Salado College/MCCCD. Rocky Point Park was an amusement park on the Narragansett Bay shore of Warwick, Rhode Island, United States. The two shooting victims who died were identified as Ramón Sosol Vázquez, 44, who was shot at least six times; and Gabriel Corral Vizcarra, 40, also … That means that if you're flying into Mexico, schedule your flights to arrive during the day and use pre-arranged transportation to get to your hotel or resort, as Mexican taxis, particularly the illegal ones, can sometimes be used for express kidnappings and sexual assaults. Sonora Attorney General Carlos Navarro said the gunfight took place in a tourist zone called Sandy Beach. Now, that's certainly not our intent in writing on this topic; after all, we prefer to take a "go, but" approach to travel security rather than definitely tell anyone not to go. 649 people like this. Cartel members also tend to wield military-grade weapons, which they do not hesitate to use on rival gangs or security forces, often resulting in collateral damage. Pairing Dinners return to Rocky Point! To empower members to confidently understand and navigate a continuously changing and complex global environment. But in terms of homicide, Mexico looms much larger in the figures: Of the 152 who were murdered overseas during the 12 months in question, exactly half died in Mexico. But a post on their Facebook page from Wednesday alluded to the discovery of the mass grave in Rocky Point on that day. Community See All. That notwithstanding, Mexico patently does have a serious problem with violent crime, as evidenced by the many cartels that are fighting each other for control of the country's lucrative drug production areas, trafficking corridors and domestic narcotics sales. Fear Is Killing Tourism in Rocky Point, Mexico, Though Tourists Are Relatively Safe There -- For Now For Southwest residents seeking the sea, Rocky Point is an easy drive. ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. (WNCN) — Rocky Mount police are investigating after a man was killed in a shooting early Saturday. Your contact infoWe'll be in touch if we look into your question. Last year's U.S. tourist figures are not yet available, but it's safe to assume that the tally will come in higher than the 35 million that visited the country in 2017. The men got out and, without saying anything, fired at least 16 shots from their AK-47s at the man, hitting him seven times and killing him. Officials say that two Mexican nationals were killed in the shooting … Dozens of tourists traveling from Nevada, California, Arizona, and other... News . Homicides have risen dramatically in the border city of Nogales in the past four years. Log In. Rocky Point is approximately 60 miles south of the Arizona-Mexico Border and is a popular weekend and holiday spot. As our 2019 Mexico cartel forecast reported, murders in the country hit their highest rate ever last year and, worryingly, there's nothing to suggest that this year will be any different. In 1996, the park officially filed for bankruptcy. Info. It was good while it lasted. 6 talking about this. And while just six Americans fell victim to homicide in the latter, the murder rate for U.S. citizens is, per capita, higher on the Caribbean island than it is in Mexico. And speaking of the dark, avoid driving at night, even on the highways. Calle 11a, Recinto Portuario #148 (1,135.41 mi) Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico, 83554. A retired educator living in Phoenix, Cox first visited Rocky Point three winters ago with his adult daughter. Five people were shot dead in a gunfight with Mexican police in the Sonora beach resort of Puerto Peñasco, or Rocky Point, early Wednesday. Tucsonan Kay Warren spends nearly eight months out of the year at her property inside the Las Conches Community in Rocky Point. US Victims In Mexico Attack From Fundamentalist Mormon Community Over the last four years, there was a concerted effort to warn Americans about going to Mexico. Before you go, minimize what you take with you on your trip, so that you can reduce your losses if you are robbed and lessen your temptation to resist an armed criminal. Gonzalo Inzunza Inzunza, a top lieutenant in the Sinaloa cartel, was among six people killed in an hours-long shootout on Sandy Beach in Rocky Point this week, Mexican officials say. Despite this, the resorts of Cancun, Cozumel and Cabo San Lucas are already full of American tourists in 2019, and I expect they will be near capacity over spring break. Heisler lives near Sandy Beach with his wife. E.g. The pick-up … Five people were shot dead in a gunfight with Mexican police in the Sonora beach resort of Puerto Peñasco, or Rocky Point, early Wednesday. Rocky Point is trying to build an international airport and cruise port but have no idea when either will be complete. Equally popular with … For the moment, though, let's take a closer look at the confluence of Mexico's growing murder rate and the rising number of American tourists choosing to visit the country. The U.S. Consul went to its social media accounts to warn people early Wednesday morning to stay indoors until the gunfire subsided. Here's a report in English from RockyPointNewsOnline.com. Process at the Control Point: Staff from the Convention and Visitors Bureau (OCV) will request: a) Identification of the driver and of each of the passengers, checking to see this coincides with the visitors’ notification, name, and date of entry on the list sent daily to the control point by lodging centers that have been certified by the City. chief of police in rocky point shot june 19, 2010 The Chief of Police of Puerto Penasco and his bodyguard were shot and wounded while traveling in an official city vehicle sometime between 10:22 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Saturday night as he and his bodyguard drove on Calle Suchiate in front of the Bimbo warehouse, according to City Director of Public Security. Mexican officials have not identified the dead. That's why it's critical to pack a stop-the-bleed kit and other first aid equipment, a good-quality flashlight and smoke hoods, as these items can literally be lifesavers. I have been coming to Rocky Point for over 25 years and have NEVER had any issues. by Richard | Apr 2, 2021 | newsletter | 0 | The main highway from the border at Lukeville down to Rocky Point is, for the most part, kept in... Read More . It operated from the late 1840s until it closed on November 7, 1994. Because, ultimately, the threat may not be as great as feared. Mexico's climbing murder rate has yet to deter American tourists from visiting their southern neighbor. Forgot account? The women found at least 27 bodies buried. A scene from Puerto Peñasco, Mexico, after Wednesday’s shootout that left five people dead. “When they arrived, officers located a 30-year-old male victim at the […] According to an initial investigation, a pick-up truck driver was heading up Mexico's Highway 8, away from Rocky Point, as the Yakaitis's SUV was heading toward the beach town. Last year's U.S. tourist figures are not yet available, but it's safe to assume that the tally will come in higher than the 35 million that visited the country in 2017. He was found carrying four rifles and body armor. He’s been named in various grisly murders in Mexico's cartel battles. We'll be in touch if we look into your question. Comments on: A tourist from Mexico was shot and killed Sunday by a group of gunmen while vacationing in Rocky Point, reports say. Steve Heisler was sleeping when he woke to helicopters firing at people on the ground. Can $180,000 really last 65 … In prehistoric times, American bisons trailed down through the breaks to Rocky Point to cross the river. If the information is not on the list, access will be denied. Five Killed In Puerto Peñasco Tourist Zone Gun Battle, Sonora Attorney General Carlos Navarro said. You can definitely plan a few hours of a side trip here while traveling to New York City or Hartford. Furthermore, many of the Americans murdered in places like Tijuana and Juarez were dual citizens or residents of Mexico who were involved in criminal activity — that isn't intended to minimize their deaths, but merely indicates that such murders have almost no bearing on the American tourists who visit Mexican resorts. Puerto Peñasco, known as Rocky Point in the U.S., has continued to grow in recent years as a resort town and with the booming business of vacation rental companies like Airbnb and Vrbo. Rocky Point Vacations. Geography, economics and history have resulted in the United States and Mexico becoming tightly intertwined, with Mexico's manufactured goods benefiting the U.S. market and U.S. tourists helping Mexico's economy. The U.S. State Department has issued travel warnings for travel toward Rocky Point for two years. They had been thinking of leaving Rocky Point, and Wednesday's shooting "certianly puts us over the top," he said. 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