Canadian expat and former professional boxer Richard Souce found himself in a precarious situation while watching the men's Olympic gold medal hockey game in his condo located in the Centro (Downtown) region of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. During the game, tensions escalated on the streets below as smoke began to rise, a byproduct of violence erupting in the wake of the killing of notorious cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as 'El Mencho,' by the Mexican military.
While absorbing Canada's heartbreaking defeat to the U.S. in the hockey match, Souce noted the palpable unrest outside. In a phone call with CityNews, he described his experience: “We were watching the hockey game with some friends, and as soon as that ended I went out on my balcony and there was all this smoke and stuff.” Souce, who is accustomed to facing tough opponents in the boxing ring, opted to disregard shelter-in-place orders in a show of calm.
Recalling the chaotic atmosphere, he shared, “Even the day of, when it was all going on, I went down to the store, a couple blocks down and grabbed some eggs and cheese and stuff.” On Monday, he ventured out to capture the aftermath of the destruction firsthand and downplayed the risks associated with the recent violence, suggesting that tourists should not panic. “I’m not worried about it,” he remarked, adding that the government took decisive action against one of its top targets to demonstrate strength.
Souce observed that cartel members specifically targeted government-owned businesses during the unrest. “They torched government stores, they are like 7-11s that are all owned by the government here, they’re called Oxxos. They torched all those Oxxos because they are government-owned, and there were a few city-run buses that were set on fire,” he noted. To disrupt traffic and access to the city, cartel members also set fire to several taxis.
Despite the destruction and hostile environment, Souce indicated that he has no plans to leave Puerto Vallarta anytime soon. He plans to stay until April but is concerned about the economic impact on local residents who may suffer from reduced tourism due to visitors’ fears. He stated, “Everything is back to normal; it was a little blip. I’m not worried about it unless something continues. Today everyone is out on the water, and people are sailing again.”
Emphasizing the resilience of the local community, he expressed sorrow for the locals, saying, “The Mexican people are so awesome, especially in Puerto Vallarta. It hurts them more than anything.” Souce’s reflections highlight the juxtaposition of his own personal experience against the broader landscape of fear and uncertainty that often accompanies such violent events.
