While driving back through the city in his black 1919 Dodge roadster Villa passed by a school and a pumpkinseed vendor ran toward Villa's car and shouted "Viva Villa!" – a signal for a group of seven riflemen who then appeared in the middle of the road and fired more than 40 shots into the automobile. In the fusillade of shots, nine Dumdum bullets, normally used for hunting big game hit Villa in the head and upper chest, killing him instantly.