A 14-year-old girl was shot by gunmen in Mexico as they opened fire on her dad during an execution-style killing.
Chris Cleave, 54, was driving his red Audi through the resort of Playa del Carmen near Cancun when he was ambushed by two men on a motorbike who opened fire. His daughter, Chloe Cleave, 14, was taken to hospital and treated for shock and minor injuries.
A chilling note warned the British estate agent that he would end up in a body bag a year before he was shot dead in front of his teenage daughter in Mexico.
On his Facebook page, Mr. Cleave said he graduated from Penair Secondary School in 1986, there is no suggestion that Cleave was involved in drugs or any wrongdoing but police are conducting an investigation into why he was the subject of an execution-style killing.
Local prosecutors confirmed two arrests had been made over the killing. The two men have since been pictured and named Jose N, 30, and Lenin N, 18.
A spokesman for Quintana Roo’s State Prosecution Service said: “We can confirm the arrest of two men who probably participated in the incident that took place on Saturday morning in which a foreigner living in the area lost his life.”
Cleave is a permanent resident of Mexico since 2013, who worked in real estate and had been threatened by a local gang prior to the ambush, according to local media. On March 9, three days before the shooting, Cleave had shared images on Facebook to celebrate his daughter’s birthday.
They are originally from Truro, the businessman was described in tributes left on Facebook as a “true friend” and “great dad”. Shocked friends expressed their grief at his murder on his Facebook page.
In one of the dozens of posts expressing shock at the killing, Laure Koltunski wrote: “You were a great person, a great real estate broker, a great dad. You are going to be missed.”
Kristen Amrhein said: “I am shocked, gutted, and deeply disturbed by this horrible, horrible news. You were the highlights of my trips to Playa and I will miss you, my friend. I always looked forward to our funny exchanges and it was my privilege to have known you.”
In another message, Sara Jones said: “You were the most generous and helpful person I know, always making time for everyone. You made my life happier, easier, and more joyful every day I knew you.”
“I will miss our cups of tea, glasses of wine, British jokes, and endless fun conversations. Playa is mourning the loss of a truly great man today, who didn’t deserve to be taken so soon,” she added.
The Quintana Roo state prosecutor’s office said two suspects were arrested later on Saturday on suspicion of involvement in the killing. A gun that may have been used was found in their possession at the time of the arrest.
Police said one of the alleged killers had tried to flee on foot after getting off the motorbike during a police chase and hiding in the undergrowth.
It comes after the Mexican government deployed National Guard troops to Quintana Roo late last year, after a spike in violence linked to organized crime.
The ex-pat is believed to have been followed as he left his home before being assassinated as he stopped in traffic. In January, two Canadian nationals were shot and killed in the Hotel Xcaret in Playa del Carmen.
In a statement given to Reuters, the British embassy said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Mexico and is in touch with the Mexican police/local authorities.”
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