Update: As the story of the killings in Mexico blows up in the American press, President Trump in a series of tweets offered American assistance in bringing the killers to justice. "If Mexico needs or requests help in cleaning out these monsters, the United States stands ready, willing & able to get involved and do the job quickly and effectively."

In other words, the US is determined to bring these killers to justice. Trump added that, after the rash of violent episodes in recent months, it's now time for Mexico to address its crime problem.

Trump also appeared to confirm that the family was caught in the crossfire between two feuding drug gangs.

A wonderful family and friends from Utah got caught between two vicious drug cartels, who were shooting at each other, with the result being many great American people killed, including young children, and some missing. If Mexico needs or requests help in cleaning out these..... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 5, 2019

....monsters, the United States stands ready, willing & able to get involved and do the job quickly and effectively. The great new President of Mexico has made this a big issue, but the cartels have become so large and powerful that you sometimes need an army to defeat an army! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 5, 2019

This is the time for Mexico, with the help of the United States, to wage WAR on the drug cartels and wipe them off the face of the earth. We merely await a call from your great new president! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 5, 2019

Mexico has so far been more than willing to work with the administration on border security. Will it be equally as accommodating when it comes to bringing this group to justice.

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Will this horrific incident finally be enough to convince AMLO that it's time for Mexico to crack down on armed groups of drug traffickers? In a violent ambush that reportedly took the victims completely by surprise, NBC News reports that nine Americans - a large family of what appear to be Mormon missionaries - were killed during a highway ambush by armed gangsters on Monday. Of the nine Americans killed, six were children, and two were a pair of eight-month-old twins.

There were at least eight survivors from a caravan of families who were traveling in the Mexican border state of Sonora when they were ambushed. A friend of the victims said the family was living in La Mora a the time of the incident, which is about 75 miles south of the US border.

This family friend named the victims as Christina Marie Langford Johnson, 29, Dawna Langford, 43, Trevor Langford, 11, and Rogan Langford, two-and-a-half. Also slain were Rhonita Miller, 30, Howard Miller, 12, Krystal Miller, 10, and eight-month-old twins, Titus and Tiana Miller. They were all part of a Mormon group living in Mexico, and some were said to be traveling for a wedding.

Another relative of one of the victims, Willie Jessop, a resident of Utah, told reporters that a caravan of several families was traveling together when they were suddenly attacked. Jessop said three of the cars were shot at and one of them was set on fire.

Jessop says he and his family have been trying to mobilize Mexican federal officials to look into the killings. They have also been in contact with the FBI.

"Everyone is in so much shock," he said. "It's just unbelievable and there's just no way to comprehend it."

Even for a country that's desensitized to extreme acts of violence, the incidents that have unfolded this year have been a shock for Mexico. Last month, armed thugs forced the government to release the son of "El Chapo", the former Sinaloa Cartel leader who is now being held in an American Supermax prison.

Local newspapers have described the incident as an "organized crime ambush," but it's unclear how exactly these young Mormon families got caught up in something so violent. Some said the attack might have been a case of mistaken identity.

CBS This Morning has more, including video of the aftermath: