The horrifying incident of four American citizens being shot at and kidnapped in Mexico has shocked many, especially after a video of the incident surfaced. The victims have been identified as a group of friends from South Carolina who had traveled to Mexico for a cosmetic medical procedure. According to relatives who spoke to ABC News and the Associated Press, the group included Latavia “Tay” McGee, her cousin Shaeed Woodard, and two friends, Zindell Brown and Eric James Williams.
Zalandria Brown, Zindell Brown’s sister, expressed her shock and disbelief, stating, “To see a member of your family thrown in the back of a truck and dragged, it is just unbelievable.” The group had reportedly crossed over the southern border from Texas into the dangerous city of Matamoros in Tamaulipas when their white minivan came under fire, and they were subsequently abducted by gunmen.
Reports indicate that the Americans had come to Mexico for a medical purpose, with Latavia McGee scheduled for a surgery. Latavia’s mother, Barbara Burgess, expressed her concerns about the trip and had warned her daughter against it. However, despite her mother’s concerns, Latavia reassured her, saying, “Ma, I’ll be okay,” before leaving for the journey.
The shocking video of the abduction shows men in bulletproof vests pushing a woman into the flatbed of a white pickup truck, while two men were thrown into it. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for the return of the victims and arrests of the gunmen.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador confirmed that one Mexican citizen was killed in the broad-daylight shooting. Matamoros, the city where the Americans were kidnapped, has been plagued by fighting among factions of the Gulf drug cartel for several years. The State Department warns US citizens against traveling to Tamaulipas, but many Americans who live near the border often cross it to visit family and attend appointments in the area.
The video of the kidnapping can be watched below: