Family in shock after Quebec man shot dead in Mexico

The family of a Quebec man says it isin shock after learning the 27-year-oldwas shot to death in the Mexican beach town of PuertoEscondido on the Pacific coast.

On Tuesday,Oaxaca state prosecutors said the body of Victor Masson was foundin a car on Monday.

Masson is the second foreign tourist killed in the southernMexican state in less than a week.

The victim's family issued a statement Wednesday confirming Masson's death and on Thursday said histwo brothershad goneto Mexico to formally identify the body.

"Victor and his partner, who is originally from the country, were on vacation for two weeks visiting her family," read a statementfrom Annie Viau, the spokesperson for the family."Victor's two brothers feel completely helpless."

Viau said the circumstances of Masson's death are still unclear. Hiswallet was not found, but his passport and phone were found next to him in the car.

The statement said Masson's brothersare in contact with the Canadian embassy in Mexico and found a lawyer to help them understand the context of their brother's "violent death," as they prepare to repatriate his body. The statement said communication with local police has been difficult.

According to Radio-Canada, Masson is from Saguenay,a city located about 200 kilometres north of Quebec City.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Masson worked as a mortgage advisor at Laurentian Bank andhad studied at Bishop's University in Sherbrooke, Que.

Prosecutors did not provide any possible motive for the shooting.

Masson's death camejust days after a man from Argentina was killedin a machete attack in another coastal town in Oaxaca.

Argentine tourist Benjamin Gamondwas attackedFriday while in the hamlet of La Isla, at the mouth of the Laguna de Chacahua. Laguna de Chacahua is about 100 kilometreswest of Puerto Escondido.

Gamonddied on Monday in a Mexico City hospital, prosecutors from the state of Oaxaca said in a statement. They said Gamond'salleged attacker, accused of assaulting two other Argentine tourists who survived, is being held on suspicion of homicide.

Oaxaca, known for its beaches, haslower crime rates than moststates in Mexico. Elsewhere, in northern Mexico,two American citizens died after a group of four was kidnapped earlier this year.

In a statement, Global Affairs Canada said it isaware that a Canadian citizen had died in the country. It said it is in contact with local authorities, and consular services are being provided to the victim's family.

"GlobalAffairsCanada continues to recommend that Canadians exercise a high degree of caution in Mexico due to the high levels of criminal activity and kidnapping," the statement reads.