( CNN ) -- A survivor of a massacre in Mexico that left 72 dead is advising other would-be migrants to stay at home to avoid a fate like the one his companions met . The victims in the killings , which happened in northern Mexico , were migrants from Central and South America who were on their journey north . In an interview with Ecuadorean state television , the survivor , identified as Luis Freddy Lala , spoke about the harrowing ordeal . Although his name has been released , his face was blurred on camera . Lala said his journey began in Ecuador , and from there he traveled to Honduras and then to Guatemala . During that leg of the trip , `` everything was fine , '' he said . From Guatemala he crossed into Mexico and made it with a large group of migrants to the northeastern Mexican state of Tamaulipas . Three cars surrounded the vehicle he was riding in , and a group of heavily armed men stepped out , forcing him into another car . The migrants were taken to a house , where they were tied up in groups of four , Lala said . Then , at one point , the hostages were all thrown on the ground , face-down . `` I heard them shooting at my friends , '' he said . `` They shot me and they killed everyone else . '' From the broadcast portions of the interview , it was not clear what the motive for the massacre might have been . As soon as the gunmen finished , they left the premises , Lala said . `` When they left I waited two minutes , got up and left the house , '' he said . He walked all night and into the morning until he found a military checkpoint where he asked for help . Along the way , Lala said , he was denied help from two men he encountered . His advice to others wanting to go on the journey toward the United States is to not go because it is too dangerous to cross through Mexico . `` I 'm telling all Ecuadoreans not to travel anymore , because the Zetas are killing lots of people , '' he said , referring to the cartel believed to be behind the killings . Mexican officials confirmed Wednesday that a second person survived the attack but authorities said they would not reveal the second survivor 's identity for safety reasons .
Ecuadorean immigrant Juan Lala was one of the survivors of a massacre in Mexico . He advises other would - be survivors not to make the journey . The survivors were captured by armed men . They were tortured and killed at a hotel .