The five gunmen in military uniforms fired around 20 shots by the Oasis Palm resort on Tuesday, reports reveal. According to Hernández Gutiérrez, the Quintana Roo chief of police, the five men arrived onto the beach with jet skis and began shooting in order to scare away tourists.
However, no one was injured in the chaotic incident.
After the tourists fled the scene the men left their jet skis, changed their clothes, and deserted the beach.
The jet skis were later seized by police, Mr Gutiérrez said.
Witnesses were left shocked after seeing the terrifying incident.
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US Tourist Andy Guyrich said: “We just had to hit the deck.”
His companion Kerry Arms said: “There was a delayed reaction for about maybe five seconds, then everybody started scrambling and screaming and crying and running.”
Rick Lebassa, also visiting from the States, revealed he didn't see any shots and thought the gunmen were shooting into the air.
He said: “I did not see any shots coming in toward the shoreline.
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“I'm not overly concerned because this is the first time ever.
“We've been coming down for 31 years and we've never had any issues.”
Some witnesses heard the gunfire from their rooms at the hotel.
Witness Zayne Jones told KUTV: “I ran to the balcony to tell them to get down and get to a corridor and get cover.
“There was panic at the resort, people running and yelling.
“Luckily nobody got hurt, but it could have gone a different way.
“Just not a good feeling having your kids out here.”
Violence at popular Mexican resorts, especially in Cancun, have become an increasing issue for local authorities and members of the Mexican National Guard have even been deployed to patrol beaches to keep an eye on potential criminal activity.