The massacre was perpretated by Hungarian Army troops with aid from some locals; 93 ethnic Romanians and Jews were killed.

[1][2] On that day, instigated by the former landlord Francisc (or Ferenc) Bay, the 22nd Hungarian Border Guards Battalion "Debrecen", led by Lieutenant-Colonel Ákosy, made a 4 km (2.5 mi) detour from the Zalău–Ciumărna–Hida route to the "Măgura" area of the commune, which formerly belonged to Francisc Bay.

The Hungarian troops entered the village at noon, under unclear circumstances fired at the locals, killing many of them and partially destroying the Orthodox church.

[citation needed] Also, some villagers claim to have recognised some of the young men as locals from Zalău.

According to some historians, several Hungarian inhabitants of the village tried to stop the massacre, but they were themselves chased and beaten.