In brief
Chicago teen Jason Peña, critically injured in a violent ambush in Durango, Mexico, fights for his life while family members mourn the tragic loss of his father and uncle.
In a heartbreaking incident that unfolded in Durango, Mexico, an American teenager, Jason Peña, is battling for his life after being shot in a brutal ambush that also claimed the lives of three relatives. The attack occurred late on December 27 when assailants targeted the car carrying Jason, his father Vicente Peña Jr., and uncle--both U.S. citizens--along with a Mexican relative.Family spokeswoman Julie Contreras, who is also a pastor and director of the Chicago-based United Giving Hope advocacy group, shared that Jason was struck in the back of the head but managed to survive, with his heart still beating when discovered by police. “We have a fighter on our hands,” Contreras remarked during a phone interview from Illinois.The 14-year-old, who had just celebrated his birthday on December 29, was airlifted to Texas for urgent medical care on Wednesday. Accompanying him was his mother, a nurse who quickly traveled from the Chicago area to be by her son’s side.The U.S. Embassy has confirmed the deaths of two American citizens involved in the incident, and stated they are actively assisting the victims' families while the Mexican authorities investigate the attack. Local federal authorities have indicated that state officials are now managing the investigation of this tragic event.
