Two dead and two alive US hostages were discovered in Mexico.

According to Mexican authorities, two Americans were slain in Matamoros, Tamaulipas state, Mexico, after the car they were traveling in was hit by gunfire from competing cartels.

What took place?
The four US individuals traveled into Matamoros, Tamaulipas state of Mexico, in a white minivan with North Carolina license plates. The Americans were going to a doctor's appointment with their pal. based the the FBI, "Unknown gunmen opened fire on the minivan's passengers just before entering Mexico. Armed guys removed all four of the Americans from the site after loading them all into a car." According to reports, the armed guys are members of the potent Gulf drug cartel, which rules over Matamoros. The gang's various divisions frequently engage in conflict with one another.The Americans were caught amid gunfire from fighting cartel groups. A video circulating online showed them being loaded into the back of a pickup truck by gunmen.

How were they found?

Tamaulipas Governor Americo Villareal did not provide any details of how or where they were found.

He did not also provide any particulars on the wounded person's injuries, only revealing that "Right now, ambulances and the rest of the security personnel are going to give corresponding support."

The Americans were found in a rural area east of Matamoros called Ejido Longoreno, a state authority told AP.

The FBI had earlier reported that it was conducting search efforts in collaboration with Mexican authorities for the missing Americans.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has confirmed that one suspect is in custody.

Lopez Obrador said the US government has "the right to protest like they have, we really regret that this happens in our country."

What has the US said?

The White House has denounced the kidnapping as ´unacceptable´ and said Washington would pursue justice for the victims.

´We´re going to work closely with the Mexican government to ensure that justice is done in this case, ´White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said as he spoke to reporters about the incident.

´Right now our focus is very squarely on these four Americans and the families that have been affected by the attack, ´ he said

He further added that, ´we don´t have these four Americans back on home soil and really that´s what our focus is right now. ´

US Attorney General says he was briefed by the FBI on Mexico kidnapping.

The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for the arrest of the abductors.

Mexico is plagued by cartel-related violence that has seen more than 340,000 lives claimed since the government deployed the military in the war on drugs in 2006.