The violence recorded in the capital’s zone 6 in April is not isolated. Behind the armed attacks that have left 12 people dead and three injured is a dispute for control of the drug trade between the Mara Salvatrucha, Barrio 18 and the group known as the Caradura, according to investigations by the National Civil Police (PNC).
This territorial struggle has spread from the El Gallito neighborhood, in zone 3, to zone 6, areas that were previously controlled by the Caradura. However, the Mara Salvatrucha seeks to displace this structure and consolidate its dominance in retail drug distribution and extortion, the police say.
According to the PNC, violence in the area has increased in the last three weeks, as four armed attacks have left 12 people dead and three others injured.
Police intelligence work detected that three shootings have been carried out by the Mara Salvatrucha against alleged members of Barrio 18who are operators of the Caradura. The fourth event would be a response to these attacks: an alleged member of the Mara Salvatrucha died in the San Antonio neighborhood and two more people were injured.
Investigations establish that the Mara Salvatrucha intends to take control of retail drug sales and extortion in the Los Cipresales and Los Proyectos neighborhoods in that area.
“The investigations point to a nightclub operated by an influencer in zone 6. This business is part of the Caradura structure and now the Mara Salvatrucha wants to take control,” commented a source.
The Mara Salvatrucha had already displaced the Caraduras in the drug trade. Between 2024 and 2025, the gang took control of nightclubs and bars like show in zones 9, 10 and 14, which were previously administered by the Caradura.
Furthermore, on June 26, 2025, the Mara Salvatrucha would have murdered Francisco Edgar Dominguez Higueros51 years old, one of the leaders of the drug trafficking structure.
You might be interested in: MS-13 displaces Los Caradura from El Gallito and control by drug dealing would increase violence, according to authorities
Clashes in zone 6
Police records detail that 12 people died and three were injured in four armed attacks that occurred between April 14 and 21 in zone 6 of Guatemala City.
One of these attacks occurred within a cevichería, where six people died and a 5-year-old child was injured by firearm projectile.
On April 22, David Custodio Boteo, director of the PNC, warned that the violence was linked to the expansion of drug dealing, which They control the gangs by 80%. He added that these structures have diversified their activities and now control a large part of retail drug sales, with territorial disputes that are mainly concentrated in the departments of Guatemala, Escuintla, Petén and Chimaltenango.
He pointed out that these structures use minors to distribute drugs around schools and colleges. He explained that marijuana and cocaine are the substances most marketed under this modality and that gangs have evolved, going from extortion and territorial control to operating as structures linked to small-scale drug trafficking.
Chronology of attacks
On April 14, at 1:30 p.m., an armed attack was recorded on 16 Avenue “A” and 18 Street, 16-64, Cipresales neighborhood, zone 6. According to the police report, “the victims were outside their business when a Hyundai truck arrived at the scene, carrying approximately four male people, who got out with weapons and fired repeatedly.”
Katherine Priscila Méndez Donaire, Shirley Isabel Donaire García and Denzel Mateo Méndez Donaire died at the scene, presumably linked to Barrio 18. Leydi Shirley Castillo Vásquez was injured in that event.
On April 17, another attack occurred on 24th Avenue and 17th Street in the San Antonio neighborhood, zone 6. According to the PNC, armed men shot several people and then fled the scene.
During the shooting, Noé Isaac Díaz, an alleged member of the Mara Salvatrucha, died. Sindy Paola Chichilla Ordóñez and Berni Paola Pérez Mandandi Castillo were also injured. The preliminary version indicates that the attackers were traveling in a vehicle and that, after the attack, they left a firearm.
You could also read: PNC warns of possible armed attacks in zone 6 due to gang retaliation
On April 20, at approximately 3:30 p.m., an armed attack was recorded inside the Viña del Mar cevicheria, located at 18 avenue 9-30, zone 6.
According to the PNC report, “several people were eating food when two motorcycles approached; the attackers got out of them, entered the premises and shot without saying a word.”
César Augusto Hernández García, Evelyn Noemí Sinay Hernández, Ángel Ricardo Labor Ruiz, Dimas Gabriel Gunera Bámaca, Kimberly Sucely Pérez Ramos and Domingo Isaías Boch Muz died at the scene. According to investigations, at least five of the victims would be linked to Barrio 18.
On April 21, another armed attack was recorded on 16 Avenue and 16 Street in the Cipresales neighborhood, zone 6. Jeremy Otoniel Monterroso Franco and Claudia Sarai Marín Lemus died in this event, who, according to preliminary reports, would have links to Barrio 18.
You could also read: Images of the minutes before the armed attack in the area’s cevicheria are revealed 6
PNC on alert for more attacks in zone 6
On Friday, April 24, the PNC confirmed the existence of a document that warns of possible acts of violence in that area.
The institution sent a document to the Deputy Head of Departments and Special Investigation Delegations of the Specialized Criminal Investigation Division, in which it warns of consistent information that members of the Mara Salvatrucha criminal organization intend to carry out armed attacks against people who are found or circulating in different sectors.
According to the PNC alert, the gang members intend to attack pilots and passengers of motorcycle taxis, marked taxis and pirates. Parks, fields, soccer fields, cevicherias, diners, parts sales and street vendors are also mentioned.
The threat also extends to markets, stores selling daily consumer products and selling alcoholic beverages, as well as points where a rival gang operates.
“This is in retaliation for the armed attacks that have occurred against this criminal organization Mara Salvatrucha,” stated the PNC.
In the alert, the PNC identifies as risk areas the San Antonio neighborhood and the Cipresales neighborhoods, La Reynita, 30 de Junio and the projects from 4-1 to 4-10, in addition to La Cuchilla, the San Martín market, the Martinico neighborhood, the El Quintanal neighborhood, La Parroquia, the San Juan de Dios neighborhood and surrounding sectors, as well as areas of Chinautla.
Given the threat, the PNC will implement fixed posts in places where motorcycle taxis and taxis park or circulate, as well as at bus stops, in addition to mobile operations and identification controls.
The authorities do not rule out that in the coming days there will be more attacks in zone 6 and surrounding areas, which is why they are keeping the police alert active and reinforcing preventive actions.
