38-year-old former Bolivian international footballer, Sergio Jáuregui, was gunned down while participating in a friendly match in the Santa Inés neighborhood of Cuautla, Morelos, Mexico.

The fatal incident occurred at approximately 11 am local time on Sunday.

The defender, Jáuregui, had briefly stepped off the field to rehydrate at the bench when an unknown assailant approached him and fired six shots at close range.

The gunman swiftly fled the scene on a waiting motorbike at the entrance to the ground, leaving Jáuregui fatally wounded.

Despite the quick arrival of emergency services and ambulances, the efforts to save the player proved unsuccessful, and he succumbed to his injuries almost immediately.

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Atlético de San Luis Rey, a team with which Jáuregui had a significant playing history, expressed their sorrow in a heartfelt statement on their official Facebook page.

The message conveyed their deep condolences to his family and praised Jáuregui for his dedication to the team, referring to him as the “Eternal Captain of Cuautla.”

Sergio Jáuregui, whose professional career was mainly in Bolivia with a brief stint at Swiss side Yverdon-Sport FC in 2005, earned 13 caps for the Bolivian national team.

Despite retiring from professional sports in 2015 at the age of 30, this tragic incident has left the football community mourning the loss of a talented and respected player.