A Mexican cartel leader was killed in a shootout with police early Thursday, days after a violent prison break, according to reports.
Intelligence forces tracked down Ernesto Alfredo Pinon de la Cruz, known as “El Neto,” in the border city of Ciudad Juárez, where he was ultimately killed in a shootout, authorities said.
“They tracked him down, they chased him. He was injured, but on the way (to the State Attorney General’s Office) he died, ”the governor of the state of Chihuahua, Maru Campos, wrote on Twitter.
“El Neto” was among 29 inmates who escaped from a jail in Juárez on New Year’s Day after armored vehicles attacked the facility. At least 19 people, including guards and other inmates, were killed in the chaos, Reuters reported.
7 CARTEL MEMBERS, 1 MEXICAN SOLDIER KILLED IN SHOOTING NEAR US BORDER
Authorities began a manhunt for the escaped convicts. On Monday, seven people, including police officers, were killed in another clash related to the search.
The Mexican National Guard stands guard outside a state prison in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, on Sunday. Mexican soldiers and state troopers retook control of a state prison in Ciudad Juárez, across the border from El Paso, Texas, after violence broke out, according to state officials.
(AP Photo/Christian Chavez)
Also Thursday, authorities arrested the son of notorious Mexican drug cartel leader Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán in the state of Sinaloa, following a six-month interagency investigation.
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Defense Secretary Luis Cresencio Sandoval said Guzmán was the leader of a Sinaloan faction he called “los menores” or “los juniors,” who are also known as “Los Chapitos,” after the sons of El shorty
