Four American citizens were the victims of a shocking mistake on Friday, as gunmen struck their vehicle in the northern Mexican border city of Matamoros and kidnapped them, as confirmed by the FBI. According to an unidentified U.S. official, authorities believe the Americans were targeted in error after entering into Mexico to purchase much-needed medication.

Their white minivan was fired upon, and terrifying images from the scene show the four with guns pointed towards them and a woman seated beside three bodies outside the van. The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for any information leading to their return and the arrest of those responsible.

Unfortunately, this incident highlights Tamaulipas' current violent state, which has seen a recent spike in crime since the Mexican government declared war on powerful drug cartels in 2006. To express the urgency of the situation, the U.S. State Department has released a