"Junior Cortez" Rumored Killed in Internal War Within the Gulf Cartel

As reported by Chivis, the city of Reynosa, Tamaulipas is experiencing a number of shootouts and blockades.  While the full situation is still developing, it appears that recent tensions within Los Metros faction of the Gulf Cartel has reached a breaking point and a state of all out warfare has started anew.

Reports are emerging that Sergio "Junior Cortez" Ortegón and three bodyguards were killed by the forces of "El Gafe", specifically, those under the command of Alberto "Guero Cleofas" Martinez Gutierrez.  This is said to have happened around the colonias of Vista Hermosa and Portillo, near Pavón park behind the Soriana Morelos, where "Junior Cortez" was struck twice in the chest by an AR-15.

Update on 8-22-14: It has been more recently reported that another notable person, "El Chiricuas", was killed.  Also known as "El Metro 85", "El Chiricuas" was a close ally of "Junior Cortez" and has been previously reported as the sector commander of the Centro zone of Reynosa.  There are also rumors that although "Junior Cortez" was shot, he managed to escape alive.

                                   

Background Information

"Junior Cortez", also known as "C2", is often confused in reports with his father who also uses the alias "Cortez".  The senior "Cortez", Sergio Ortegón Silva, is also known as "C1" and "El Loco" and is leader of the group "Los Ceros".  He is a long time member of the Gulf Cartel, going back to possibly twenty years.  Past rumors indicated that senior "Cortez" had a falling out with Héctor "El Metro 4" Delgado Santiago, which led to "El Metro 4" being killed on January 15, 2013.

"Junior Cortez" was said to have been an ally of Miguel "El Gringo" Villarreal and Jesús "El Puma" García Román, who were both killed on March 10, 2013 in a purge ordered by Mario Armando "X20" Ramírez Treviño and said to have been carried out by the senior "Cortez".  It was further said the senior "Cortez" was able to convince "X20" to spare the life of his son, as "Junior Cortez" did not provide aid to "El Gringo" once the fighting started.

In April of this year, Juan Manuel "Juan Perro" Rodríguez García led a purge of forces loyal to Juan Fransisco "El Paquito" Martinez, who was plaza head of Reynosa.  It was rumored that "El Paquito" then went into hiding in southern Texas to escape death, though his lieutenant, "El Gafe", stayed, and took control of the Reynosa plaza.  "El Gafe" is a mysterious individual, with little said about him besides the rumor that he was once a bodyguard for "El Metro 4".

Following the purge of "El Paquito", "Junior Cortez" was mentioned as plaza head of Diaz Ordaz and the senior "Cortez" as a possible sector commander in Reynosa, though other information placed "Junior Cortez" as in charge of the Pharr bridge area in Reynosa. 

Things seemed calm for a while, though it was unclear if it was due to a truce between "Juan Perro" and "El Gafe", or if both forces were merely regrouping.

Regardless, on June 26, Federal Police were ambushed in Ejido Periquitos.  It was said that the area was under the control of "Junior Cortez" and that his people were behind the attack, along with kidnappings and killings of innocent people.  The forces of "El Gafe" warned that such action would not be tolerated and suspected that "Junior Cortez" and his father were attempting to seize power by destabilizing "El Gafe".

In the following days, it became clear that an alliance of father and son "Cortez", Guadalupe "El Tachas" Leal Flores, and Jesús Alejandro "El Simple" Leal Flores, had been formed to overthrow "El Gafe".  It was further reported that "Junior Cortez" controlled the colonias of Delicias, Unidad Obrera, Laguna, Lazaro Cardenas, and Loma Blanca. 

At the time it was also said that "El Guero Cleofas" was part of this alliance, as he had been arrested and thought "El Gafe" had betrayed him, but in light of recent news it is uncertain if this report was a mistake or if he later changed sides, possibly convinced that "El Gafe" was not behind his arrest. 

On June 29, "El Gafe" was said to have been shot in a failed assignation attempt.  It is unclear what happened to "El Gafe" thereafter, though recent information implies that the power of "El Gafe" over Reynosa would become somewhat diminished.  It is possible that "El Gafe" retreated from Reynosa and/or had to recover from his injuries.

On the morning of August 8 there was a number of blockades in Reynosa as federal forces made an unsuccessful attempt at arrest the senior "Cortez". 

A letter appeared online on August 17 denouncing recent actions by "Junior Cortez" to increase his power in Reynosa and asking for the return of "El Paquito" and "El Gafe".  In light of the killing of "Junior Cortez", it seems that this was all a pretext. 

Conclusion

It is very likely that the senior "Cortez" will seek vengeance for the death of his son and his allies will counterattack the forces of "El Gafe", who, quite possibly, is welcoming the return of "El Paquito".  The entire area under the control of Los Metros is currently under high alert as cartel vehicles are being mobilized for attacks and counterattacks.