On Friday, four American citizens, Latavia “Tay” Washington McGee, Shaeed Woodard, Zindell Brown and Eric traveled to Mexico from South Carolina as Washington McGee intended to receive a medical procedure. The group had known each other since their childhood days in South Carolina and were close.

However, the four friends never even made it to their medical appointment as they encountered crossfire between rival cartel groups in the border city of Matamoros. The incident resulted in a Mexican bystander being killed and the Americans being abducted by unknown gunmen and taken away in a car.

Subsequently, investigators believed that the Americans were mistook for Haitian drug smugglers and were victim to mistaken identity. This was further supported by their lack of a known criminal history.

US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar issued a statement warning against medical tourism as it is not without risks,