Mexican gymnast Jaime Humberto Romero Morán was killed on Saturday.

The 22-year-old athlete was outside Lienzo Charro Zermeño in Guadalajara, Jalisco when he was shot, according to Notimex via CNN Mexico.

Morán and a friend, Raul Trejo Santos, 23, were having a discussion when they were attacked by a group of armed men, who fled after killing the two. The men ran into two cars after shooting the men multiple times. One car was white, though the make and model is not known. The other was a gray Ford Lobo, according to Proceso.

The two men were found on the pavement with injuries in the skull and thorax. About 12 casings for a 9mm gun were found near the bodies.

Conade, the national commission for physical culture and sports in Mexico, sent out a tweet expressing its condolences.

"@CONADE laments the death of gymnast Jaime Humberto Romero [Morán], 22, that occurred at dawn on January 3," the message said.

Morán did not participate in the Central American and Caribbean Games in Veracruz in 2014, but he was an important member of the Mexican's gymnastic team. He and his team were looking to take part in the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 after qualifying for the 2015 World Gymnastics Championship.

At the Olimpiada Nacional Juvenil, a sporting event for amateur athletes that takes place in Mexico, Morán was the winner of the vault. He placed second on the pommel horse and third on the high bar.

Morán's mother spoke to Excelsior, and she said she had no idea why her son was targeted, according to 20 Minutos.

"I officially know nothing," she said. "His friends said that around 1:15 [a.m.] he stepped outside the place they were, and then they didn't find out anything else."

Morán's mother added he was a boy with dreams, who always looked for a better Mexico. She said he found that through sports.

"The boys who die in Mexico, not all are criminals," she said. "My son was not armed. He had little time for recreation. He was a responsible guy. He asked for permission to go celebrate the birthday of a friend. I do not know any motive for the murder of my son."