A clash on Friday between gunmen from a criminal gang and residents of a small farming community in central Mexico resulted in the death of eleven individuals, according to authorities.

Dramatic footage of the confrontation, shared on social media, depicted villagers in cowboy hats armed with sickles and hunting rifles chasing down suspected gang members amid bursts of automatic gunfire.

The clash occurred in the hamlet of Texcaltitlan, approximately 80 miles (130 kilometers) southwest of the capital, according to State of Mexico police. The Associated Press (AP) reported that eight of the deceased were members of the criminal gang, while three were village residents. Although the gang involved was not identified by the police, the violent Familia Michoacana drug cartel has maintained dominance in the region for the past decade.

The video suggested that the attackers were clad in military-style uniforms, some wearing helmets. Villagers were seen setting their bodies and vehicles on fire.

Local media reported that gunmen associated with Familia Michoacana had previously visited the village, demanding local farmers pay extortion fees per acre (hectare). Authorities did not immediately comment on this.

Drug cartels in Mexico are known to extort money from various legitimate and illegitimate businesses, sometimes resorting to attacks or arson against ranches, farms, or stores that resist payment.

Familia Michoacana is infamous for audacious ambushes on law enforcement and the 2022 massacre of 20 townspeople in Totolapan, neighboring Guerrero state. The attack claimed the lives of the town's mayor, his father, and 18 other men.