Tragedy in Guatemala: Victims of Zacapa massacre buried amidst accusations against the State
In an atmosphere of deep grief and dismay, seven of the eight people who died following the violent armed attack that occurred last Sunday in the municipality of Huité, Zacapa, in eastern Guatemala, were buried this Tuesday. The local community bid farewell to their loved ones in a joint funeral that traveled through the streets to the municipal cemetery, on a day marked by the closure of businesses and schools due to the population’s persistent fear.
The crime has generated strong outrage among the victims’ relatives, who have pointed to state security forces as potentially responsible for the event. The allegations point to an alleged excessive use of force during the attack, which has left the Zacapa community plunged into uncertainty.
They were going to get gas to go out to work at four in the morning. Without giving any explanation, not a word, nothing, they riddled my mother and my two sisters with bullets. They were innocent, they were not armed. There were helicopters firing. They killed a 14-year-old boy just because he turned to look at the helicopter.
Enabed del Rosario Paz Paiz, relative of the victims.
Ongoing investigation and official versions
The Public Ministry reported that the attack took place in four different scenes within the municipality, an area identified as a strategic point for drug trafficking near the border with Honduras. Experts collected 77 ballistic pieces of evidence at the crime scenes to advance the investigations.
Among the identified deceased are:
- Vilma Elizabeth Paz Paiz (50 years old)
- Cinthya Gabriela Paz (27 years old)
- Uve Lisbeth Paz Paiz (21 years old)
- Mario René Romero Díaz (63 years old)
- Carlos Jacinto Mateo Paiz (26 years old)
- Juan Carlos Pedroza Agustín (45 years old)
In addition, the authorities confirmed the death of a minor who still remains officially unidentified by the National Institute of Forensic Sciences.
For its part, the Government of Guatemala has categorically rejected the accusations regarding the involvement of state agents. The Minister of the Interior, Marco Antonio Villeda, denied any police operation in the area and attributed the massacre to clashes between organized crime structures operating in the region.
Context of violence in Guatemala
This unfortunate event adds to the complex security situation the country is going through, affected by drug trafficking and organized crime. According to data from the Coalition for Citizen Security, Guatemala recorded 3,139 homicides in 2025, and so far this year, the figure has already reached 1,751 murders, reflecting a structural crisis that continues to claim lives in the national territory.
