New York golf pro and his teacher girlfriend are killed in Mexico after gunmen fired 20 bullets into their jeep during intense fighting between drug cartels

  • Pat Landers, 32, and his girlfriend, Karla Baca, were killed in Juarez, Mexico
  • The couple died after 20 shots hit their Jeep while they drove down a street 
  • Landers had been quarantining with Baca in Mexico for the last three weeks
  • The couple started dating after meeting in Texas three or four months ago 

By Maxine Shen For Dailymail.com

Published: 01:32 BST, 24 April 2020 | Updated: 02:05 BST, 24 April 2020

Police have identified the New York state couple that were killed during a shooting Monday while they were in Juarez, Mexico.    

Pat Landers, 32, of Baldwinsville, New York, and his girlfriend, Karla Baca, died in the fatal shooting, Juarez Police said, according to KTSM.  

Landers, a father of one, and Baca were driving down the street in a black Jeep with New York plates when the daytime shooting occurred. 

Police said that at least 20 shots were fired at the Jeep during the incident. 

Pat Landers, 32 (left) and his girlfriend, Karla Baca (right), died in a fatal shooting in Juarez, Mexico, on Monday, while driving their Jeep down the street

Pat Landers, 32 (left) and his girlfriend, Karla Baca (right), died in a fatal shooting in Juarez, Mexico, on Monday, while driving their Jeep down the street

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing and police have not yet provided any motive for it.  

Landers’ friends told Syracuse.com that he had been quarantining in Juarez during the coronavirus pandemic with Baca, who was a physical education teacher there. 

The couple was said to have been dating for three or four months and had originally met when Landers, a golf pro, had taken a trip to Texas several months ago. 

Landers’ friend, Adam Howe, told the news site that Landers enjoyed traveling to Las Vegas and other areas in the South because of the warm weather.

Howe said that Landers would send him pictures of himself with Baca via Snapchat when he was in Mexico, the last few being photos of the couple in a kitchen. 

Landers and Baca's Jeep (center) is shown in the street with bullet holes in the windshield

Landers and Baca's Jeep (center) is shown in the street with bullet holes in the windshield

Landers and Baca’s Jeep (center) is shown in the street with bullet holes in the windshield

Baca (left) and Landers (Right) had been quarantining together in Mexico, where Baca worked as a gym teacher, for the last three weeks

Baca (left) and Landers (Right) had been quarantining together in Mexico, where Baca worked as a gym teacher, for the last three weeks

Baca (left) and Landers (Right) had been quarantining together in Mexico, where Baca worked as a gym teacher, for the last three weeks 

Landers (left) and Baca (right) had started dating three or four months ago, friends said

Landers (left) and Baca (right) had started dating three or four months ago, friends said

Landers (left) and Baca (right) had started dating three or four months ago, friends said

Howe noted that Landers had been in Mexico for about three weeks, while quarantining with Baca, and that he had recently joked about eating too many churros and said that he was trying to learn more Spanish.  

In an interview with Spectrum News, Howe said of Landers: ‘I want people to know he was a great father and loved his son Cameron.’

Howe added that Landers loved his son ‘more than anything in the world.’

Officials said that Baca had been on a six-month leave and had just returned to work at her primary school on Monday – the day of the fatal shooting – according to the El Paso Times.  

Juaraz has been under a stay-at-home directive since March 23. Despite this, more than 100 killings have been reported there this month. 

Police have attributed most of the violence to drug cartels fighting for control over the crystal meth market.  

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