5 killed, 3 injured in shootout in resort city of Cancun

MEXICO CITY -- Authorities say five people were killed and three injured after assailants entered a shop adjoining a restaurant in the resort city of Cancun and opened fire on a group of police officers.

The Quintana Roo state government said in a statement Friday that one officer died, and "there are no tourists or foreigners among the injured or deceased." The state prosecutors' office said the other four people killed were employees.

The shop is located on the road between Puerto Juarez and Puerto Sam, where visitors frequently depart to Isla Mujeres.

The Interior Department said earlier this month that homicides in the country rose 16 per cent to 15,973 in the first half of 2018.

That puts Mexico on track to have its bloodiest year since records began being kept in 1997.