Miguel Ángel Fernández "El M2" Confirmed Killed in Tepalcatepec, Michoacan

"Socalj" and "HEARST" for Borderland Beat

Michoacán Prosecutor's Office confirmed that Miguel Ángel Fernández, El M2 was found dead after being shot during a battle with federal forces.

WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES BELOW

The Michoacán Prosecutor's Office confirmed that a decomposing body found on February 6 in Tepalcatepec corresponds to Miguel Ángel Fernández, El M2, regional head of the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel (CJNG) who would have died after receiving a bullet in the chest.

"The victim was identified as Miguel Ángel F., known as M2, 40 years old, so he was handed over to his relatives, who became aware of the death through publications on social networks," it was read in the statement.

According to the information provided by the FGE, the decomposing corpse was located on February 6 in the community of El Casangüe, in the municipality of Tepalcatepec, after which an investigation folder was opened in the Coalcomán Regional Prosecutor's Office.

Miguel Fernández, known as "El M2", lieutenant of the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel (CJNG) in the Tierra Caliente region of Michoacán, possibly died during a confrontation with federal forces, according to versions that circulated this weekend on social networks. But no confirmation yet has been provided. The FGE continues with the acts of investigation in relation to the homicide.

WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES BELOW

Presumably, the body of El M2 of the CJNG was located in a place in Tepalcatepec along with that of another man, both decomposing, in the town of El Casangue, in the municipality of Aguililla that he allegedly dominated.

According to testimonies from local residents, Fernández was killed during a shootout between members of the CJNG and elements of the Mexican Army and the National Guard last Friday, February 4, on the border between Tepalcatepec and Aguililla.

However, no official version or date of his death has been given, and the FGE is treating El M2's death as a homicide.

Several bracelets found on the deceased corpse match those (aside from the wristwatch) of those known to be worn by El M2.

The body that is said to be from "El M2" wears various bracelets and a watch similar to those that were observed in an interview he gave to US media outlet VICE, published in March 2021.

Supposedly, Fernández requested support through radio equipment to get out of the area where the federal forces were, however, his men were unable to rescue him.

Miguel Fernández aka El M2

POSITION: Leader of Fuerzas Especiales Mencho (FEM)

ALIAS: El M2

NAME: Miguel Fernández

OTHER ALIASES: N/A

STATUS: Active

PROFILE: El M2 is the leader of Fuerzas Especiales Mencho (F.E.M.), a group based out of Aguililla area in Michoacan. M2 is believed to have grown up in the town of La Peña in La Huacana municipality, Michoacan. M2 is generally believed to have been a cartel leader prior to choosing to align and receive support from the CJNG. He is often described as an “old friend” of CJNG leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes alias “El Mencho.”

Because M2 is the most well-known CJNG figure operating in Michoacan, he is often misattributed as being involved in events perpetrated by other CJNG Michoacan groups (such as Cinco del Puebla). He has also been the subject of multiple fake stories. He reportedly left the CJNG in January 2020, died in February 2021, however neither of these claims ended up being true.

M2 has been implicated in the October 14, 2019 attack on a convoy of the Michoacán State Police in El Aguaje, Aguililla which killed 14 police officers. According to El Universal, grenade launchers, AK-47, AR-15, and Barrett .50 caliber assault rifles, were used by the CJNG in the attack, and some of the dead officers were set on fire after their death along with their patrol cars. There are recordings in which a voice alleged to be El M2 can be heard giving orders during this attack. (Source)

In 2020, El Universal reported that M2 had been almost captured or killed by security forces at least three times, such as the July 20 2020 attempt, however, he managed to succeed in escaping each time. (Source)

Sources: FGE Michoacan El Sol del Morelia, Infobae