The Vice Minister of Security, Armando Calidonio, believes the slaughter was done by members of the Mara 18 gang, who were after one of the injured men, named Froylan. After the shooting, the killers checked each of the bodies – either to confirm their identities, or to look for gang tattoos or weapons.

The massacre took place in one of the more crowded and poor neighborhoods where the group of players were known to play soccer every weekend. Colonia Felipe is home to hundreds of gang members and their families.