Óscar Noé Medina González, better known as “El Panu,” head of security for Los Chapitos, was murdered in a restaurant in Mexico City’s Zona Rosa district in a targeted attack on the night of December 21.
The last hours of El Panu’s life show that, despite being a high-profile criminal wanted by the United States with a four million dollar reward for his capture, he felt comfortable moving around the bustling Mexican capital.
According to information revealed by journalist Carlos Jiménez, El Panu arrived in Mexico City from Mazatlán, Sinaloa, two days before the attack, on Friday.
He rented an Airbnb apartment for himself and another for his mother, who lives in Durango, with the intention of spending Christmas with his family.
On Sunday, Medina González took his mother to church and later went to dinner at the Luaú restaurant on Niza Street in the Zona Rosa.
Medina González had been under surveillance by authorities and rivals for some time. According to journalist Antonio Nieto, he was spotted months before his murder shopping at the Palacio de Hierro department store in Polanco, where he was seen with his partner.
The atmosphere of the family dinner changed abruptly around 9:00 p.m. when two men entered the Luaú restaurant. One of them, heavyset, wearing a backwards cap and a face mask, went directly to El Panu’s table and fired at least 12 shots.
The attack was swift and without warning, according to the Mexico City Police Department (SSC) and accounts from journalist Carlos Jiménez. The shots struck the face, back, neck, chest, and arms of the head of security for Los Chapitos.
