"El Fantasma" Man of "El Chapo" is Killed in Shootout Near Quila

"El Fantasma", identified as a boss of the security detail of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman was killed by members of the Mexican Marines during an operation in the region of Quila, Sinaloa. In the shootout he was wounded and transported to the hospital where he died from his injuries. He was identified as Jonathan Salas Aviles.

According to details of the incident an accomplice was also killed at the scene of the shootout, when both attempted to escape in the small town of Oso Nuevo in the region of Quila. Both men were pursued from a helicopter and were shot at from the air. The SUV in which both were travelling caught on fire and authorities later found numerous weapons and ammunition inside the vehicle.

According to the report the incident occurred yesterday at approximately 1700 hours. It is said that elements of the municipal police arrived at the scene but were mistreated by the Marines and some reports say that they were also beaten.

The shootout

"El Fantasma" and the other individual were travelling in a late model armored Cherokee with Sinaloa plates. The Marines arrived in the small town of Oso Nuevo and surprised them. Once the Marines started with their operation, "El Fantasma" along with his partner escaped in the vehicle toward Quila, but were chased by a helicopter and the vehicle was fired upon by members of the helicopter. The vehicle never made it to Quila. The Marines used a .50 caliber weapon to penetrate the armor on the vehicle. The vehicle was stopped by the side of the road burned to ashes.

"El Fantasma was transported to the general hospital by "La Cruz Roja" or ambulance where he died from his wounds, while the other man was killed not far from the vehicle. Inside the vehicle authorities recovered four AK-47s, a handgun, 28 magazines (two were disks).

It is said that from the helicopter they unleashed a volley of gunfire that caused panic once the gunfire exploded with loud sounds. They fired at the armored vehicle where "El Fantasma" was travelling until it caught fire. The vehicle was riddled with bullet holes from a .50 caliber weapon. While the vehicle was on fire, it caused many rounds of ammunition to explode within the burning inferno inside the vehicle. Some witnesses had said that the helicopter had gone down, but this has not been confirmed. The military had closed down the whole zone around the scene.

Source: El Debate