Two Dead After Armed Robbery Targets Vehicle On Suburban Highway In Mexico, Police Launch Manhunt For Gunmen

Mexico City, Mexico— Two people were killed after an armed robbery targeted a vehicle on a suburban highway outside Mexico City on November 1, 2026, in an attack that highlights growing highway crime in the region.

The vehicle was traveling on the Mexico-Puebla highway around 5 a.m. Police said at least two gunmen set up a partial roadblock using a car and debris. When the driver slowed, the gunmen approached and demanded belongings. Shots were fired during the struggle.

One passenger died inside the vehicle. A second died after being taken to a hospital in Chalco. A third passenger was uninjured but in shock. The attackers fled with phones, cash and the vehicle, which was later found abandoned two kilometers away.

"The victims were not resisting with weapons. The gunmen shot quickly. This stretch has seen similar robberies in recent weeks," a state police official said near the crime scene. He said the highway is poorly lit and patrols are infrequent.

Armed robberies on suburban highways around Mexico City have surged this year. Truck drivers, commuters and families are targeted at dawn and at night. Criminal groups use fake breakdowns and construction debris to force stops. Drivers often have no time to react.

Forensic teams collected shell casings and fingerprints from the abandoned vehicle. The state prosecutor's office opened a homicide investigation. No arrests had been made by Saturday evening. Police said they are reviewing security camera footage from a toll booth.

Relatives identified the victims as a father and his adult son who were heading to work in Puebla. Their names have not been officially released. Community members in their hometown called for more police presence on the highway.

The Mexico-Puebla highway is a critical commercial corridor. Business chambers have complained about cargo theft and passenger robberies. The federal government deployed National Guard units last month, but coverage remains thin on secondary access roads.

Transport authorities said they will add lighting and emergency call boxes to the affected section. Police advised drivers to avoid stopping on isolated stretches and to report any obstacles to 911 immediately.

The investigation continues. Police said the attackers were likely part of an organized group operating in the area.