Cabo San Lucas and San Jose De Cabo are controlled by the cartels and the Mexican Marines/Federales.
Once you fly in and get there you are protected. They do not want the tourists bothered. I was told by multiple people that IF any person bothers the tourists you(the Mexican)will end up dead. Cabo is safer than many places in the USA. Especially the Dem controlled cities.
The TJ cartel owns many of the businesses and hotels in Cabo. They do not want anyone bothering tourists and screwing up the money laundering profits. Some of those hotels are very expensive. Well over $1000/night.
However, I would not drive into Mexico at all. Anyone driving into Mexico from the USA is gambling with their life. Although, I would not be surprised IF the Mexican nationals that killed this Gringo are found dead in their cell or worse.
I met a lady from CA(when I was in Cabo last month) who had a condo in Cabo. She told how about 5 years ago there were local criminals preying on the tourists. Petty crimes, purse snatching, etc. The cartel and local government put out a cease and desist order. STOP now or else. A few days later there were four banditos hanging from the bridge on the main road going into town. After that all the bad hombres disappeared. Probably into the Pacific or shallow graves out in the Baja. Nobody has bothered the tourists since.
I also met a limo driver who had moved to St Louis when he was a kid from Mexico. He, his American wife and kids moved back to Cabo because he could now make more money there than in MO. He also said it was safer to raise his kids in Cabo than MO.
Seems to me that’s like living near an active volcano because of the rich, fertile soil. A good life, until it isn’t.