At least 18 people were killed, including a city mayor, following a gunman attack on a city hall meeting in San Miguel Totolapan, Guerrero, Mexico.
According to authorities, gunmen stormed the city hall on Wednesday during a meeting, killing mayor Conrado Mendoza, his father and former mayor Juan Mendoza, as well as other high ranking local officials. A child was also said to have been among those killed. The gang “Los Tequileros” is suspected to be behind the attack, with authorities saying the attack was in “ context of a dispute” with the rival organized crime syndicate “La Familia Michoacana.”
La estrategia de seguridad del @GobiernoMX no está dando los resultados que se necesitan, los abrazos no han detenido los balazos en ninguna parte del país, esto sucedió en San Miguel Totolapan Guerrero luego del ataque del grupo criminal de “Los Tequileros” pic.twitter.com/9lOOZ034V0
— Edgar Lezama (@Elezama23) October 6, 2022
San Miguel Totolapan is located in a region of Guerrero known as “Tierra Caliente,” or the “Hot Land,” which is infamous for its gang and cartel violence, as well as being a center for heroin production. Los Tequileros used to be part of La Familia Michoacana until a split in 2012, where the two groups rivaled for control. Los Tequileros was eventually expelled from the region after their leader and founder, Raybel Jacobo de Almonte, was killed by Mexican authorities in 2018. By 2020, Los Tequileros attempted to regain influence by aligning with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
El Pez, líder de la Familia Michoacana dice en un video que los sicarios que cometieron la masacre en #Totolapan #Guerrero iban por él pero logro salvarse por su camioneta blindada. pic.twitter.com/79ycgP0k1f
— Dominio Público (@DominioPblico3) October 6, 2022
On Tuesday, a day before the attack, La Familia Michoacana leader José Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga, who goes by “El Fresa,” got word that Los Tequileros was planning to make a return to the region. El Fresa then tried to set up a meeting with Mendoza and other officials over the issue of the group’s return, however, word of the meeting must have got out as suspected Los Tequileros gunmen set up an ambush. In a video posted to his Facebook after the attack, El Fresa explained how he believed he was the main target, crediting an armored truck he arrived in to saving his life as he fled the scene. The gunmen also set up roadblocks on highways leading into the town to prevent the arrival of responding authorities.
Video | El grupo criminal “Los Tequileros” se adjudicó el ataque armado al Ayuntamiento de San Miguel Totolapan, Tierra Caliente de Guerrero, en el que habrían fallecido más de 15 personas entre ellas, el alcalde Conrado Mendoza y su papá, Juan Mendoza. pic.twitter.com/mHToracKlV
— Ahora Guerrero (@AhoraGro) October 5, 2022
Following the attack, videos posted online appear to show members of Los Tequileros claiming responsibility for the attack, further issuing threats against La Familia Michoacana and announcing their return.
