Cartel Leader ‘El Chabelo’ Killed in Shootout After Cockfight Massacre in Manzanillo

MANZANILLO, MEXICO — José “El Chabelo” Isabel, a notorious leader of the Sinaloa Cartel in the Mexican city of Manzanillo, was killed in a fierce gun battle with police following a deadly shooting at a local cockfight.

The incident unfolded on Sunday when Isabel and his associates stormed into an illegal cockfighting arena located in the Las Parotas neighborhood. According to reports from the Spanish-language news outlet Excelsior, the group indiscriminately opened fire on the crowd, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and several others being wounded. After the attack, they attempted to flee the scene but were soon confronted by Mexican national police.

The ensuing shootout was described as intense, leading to the deaths of Isabel and an unidentified accomplice. This confrontation ended with police managing to subdue the situation, marking a significant blow to local cartel operations.

Isabel, known as a “plaza boss” for the Sinaloa Cartel in Manzanillo, was already wanted on a homicide charge prior to this incident, highlighting his violent history within the region. The city of Manzanillo, situated on Mexico’s Pacific coast, has faced ongoing issues with crime, with this year’s statistics showing 623 homicides in the state of Colima between January and October, significantly higher than the national average.

The death of a high-ranking cartel member like Isabel could lead to shifts in local power dynamics, possibly sparking more violence as other factions or aspiring leaders within the cartel vie for control over the lucrative drug trafficking routes centered around Manzanillo’s busy port.

Local authorities have not released extensive details about the victims or further specifics on the operation, but the event underscores the ongoing challenges Mexico faces with organized crime and the efforts of law enforcement to curb cartel influence.

This incident serves as a grim reminder of the violence associated with drug cartels in Mexico, where confrontations between law enforcement and criminal elements often lead to casualties and further destabilization in affected communities.