California Couple Fatally Shot While Visiting Family in Mexico

The couple, traveling in Michoacán for the holidays, were attacked in a region plagued by cartel violence and rising crime.

Rafael Cardona, 53, and Gloria Ambriz, 50, were killed when gunmen opened fire on their pickup truck in Angamacutiro, Michoacán on December 11.
The couple, who lived in Sacramento, California, were visiting family for the holidays and owned a home in the area.
Cardona was the brother-in-law of the town's mayor, Hermes Pacheco, whose family has faced prior violence, including the disappearance of a former mayor in August.
Authorities have not determined a motive for the killings, which occurred in a region marked by cartel conflicts and high homicide rates.
The U.S. State Department has warned against travel to Michoacán due to widespread violent crime, and investigations into the incident are ongoing.