A teenager identified as “Chuchito Nini” died on the night of August 30 along with Luis Enrique Barragán Chávez, “El Wicho” or “R5”, leader of the Los Reyes Cartel, during a military operation in the municipality of Tocumbo, Michoacán. Before that night, his Instagram profile documented for almost two years a change from a soccer uniform to tactical clothing and assault rifles.
The Secretariat of National Defense confirmed in a statement dated September 1 that the operation was carried out in the Rodeo del Pinal ranch, after intelligence work by the XII Military Region. According to the official version, the Army and National Guard personnel were “attacked with gunshots” and repelled the attack, resulting in the death of “El Güicho” and “a companion,” who were seized with two automatic rifles, cartridges and magazines of various calibers, and a quad bike.
The Quadratín Michoacán media reported that, after the identities were confirmed, the relatives claimed the bodies before the State Attorney General’s Office: the romantic partner of the “R5” requested his body, while the mother of the teenager, identified in that report as Jesús “N”, requested the body of her son to be transferred to Los Reyes, where the funeral services would be held.
