By Emily Drooby
A burnt-out car riddled with bullet holes as just one result of a deadly attack on Americans near the U.S./Mexico border.
The attack claimed the lives of nine family members: three mothers and six children, including two infants.
“Every one of them were young. All of them,” said Taylor Langford, a relative of the family.
The ambush was likely carried out by one of Mexico’s vicious drug cartels.
The dead were dual citizens of the U.S. and Mexico.
They were cut down while on a trip to a family gathering. Family members who stayed home could see what had happened.
“They saw the smoke and went up to see what was going on,” said Langford.
Langford explained the car belonged to his cousin Rhonita. And he’s saying she and four of her children are among the dead.
Langford’s is also identifying his aunt Dawna, and cousin Christina as victims.
Mexican authorities are reporting eight people survived the slaughter – some have serious injuries.
Leah Staddon, who says her family members killed in Mexico, said “I think a lot of us are just speechless. Its horrific.”
Staddon says the family was thinking about getting out of Mexico because of violence. “Things that have happened with family members being pulled over by the mafia, guns pointed at their vehicle.”
Staddon added she has no idea why anyone would want to harm the family. “We just can’t believe this is actually happening to our family, it just seems like a bad dream.”
The terrifying attack on the women and children is spreading fear through the area.
“It’s not just got caught in gunfire, in the wrong place at the wrong time. This was a whole new level of cartel violence. Most of them are hunkered down. They don’t know what else to do,” said Langford.