A Thanksgiving weekend deer-hunting trip to Mexico took a terrifying turn for two Texans who say they suddenly found themselves the ones with rifles pointed at them.
Donald Chapman and his nephew, Colby Williams, said the gunmen who appeared before them on Sunday apparently had been part of a convoy of cartel sicarios that rolled into the nearby town of Villa Union the day before.
The sicarios had mounted a surprise attack on the town hall and killed four police officers. But the hitmen got a surprise of their own and found themselves the target of a fierce government response that included Mexican marines and military helicopters.
Photos posted online showed several bullet-riddled and abandoned pick-up trucks bearing the letters C.D.N., for Cartel del Noreste, the Cartel of the Northeast. The occupants not among the 10 sicarios killed in the first hour seem to have fled into the surrounding countryside.
The government pursued the remaining sicarios on into Sunday, killing at least seven more. It appears that’s when a number of the hunted gunmen then encountered the hunting Texans.
Chapman, 62, and Williams, 30, were out on a 10,000-acre ranch they had leased with a single purpose.
“It’s just really good deer hunting,” Williams told The Daily Beast.
As they faced the sicarios, Williams and Chapman also faced the possibility of being as dead as a bagged buck.
But they said that as soon as they obeyed a command to get down on the ground, the Mexicans threw their guns over their shoulders.
The Texans said their captors took their rifles and their cellphones. But that was just a precaution. What they really wanted was Chapman’s pick-up along with Williams’ pick-up, which they had left back at the ranch house.
“They were walking,” Chapman later said. “They were lost.”
They were also hungry and thirsty. The two Texans said they gave them food and water.
“You do those kind of things if you have a weapon at you,” Williams noted.
Another thing you do is get in a car when instructed. By Chapman and Williams’ account, they all rode off in the two vehicles.
“They used us to get where they wanted to be, which was home and their families,” Williams said.
“They were nice to me, and to be honest with you, did not hurt us in any way.”
— Colby Williams
The Texans said their captors treated them surprisingly well.
“They were nice to me, and to be honest with you, did not hurt us in any way,” Williams reported.
Chapman recalled, “Every other word out of their mouth was, ‘No problem, you’ll be OK. We don’t hurt Americans.’”
After 11 hours, the captors had arrived where they wanted to go. They gave the Texans back their cellphones and the rest of their property.
“Everything that had been taken,” Williams said.
But that was not the biggest surprise.
“It seems wild, but they washed our vehicles and put fuel in them,” Williams said.
Chapman recalled that they only washed his nephew’s truck.
“And detailed it,” Chapman told The Daily Beast. “Mine’s still dirty.”
The gunmen had made it back to their families and now they were freeing the Texans to go back to theirs.
Their gas tanks full, the Texans headed straight for the border.
“We got across as soon as possible,” Wiliams said.
Chapman said he checked his phone and saw missed calls and messages from seemingly every law enforcement outfit.
“The FBI, Secret Service, Homeland Security, all the agencies,” Chapman told The Daily Beast. “Apparently, I was important to be found.”
Reports of their disappearance had already surfaced in the Mexican media and on social media, and their families had seen a report online that they had both been murdered. When Williams and Chapman called home to say they were on their way back, Caller ID was the first signal to their loved ones the two were alive.
“They were excited to see our call,” Williams said with a Texas boy’s understatement.
Nobody from anywhere was ever happier to be returning home. He pulled up to his house in his gleaming, detailed pick-up.
“I’ve got three kids under age 4,” Williams said. “I wanted to enjoy every minute I had with him.”
He understood how easily that news report could have proven true.
“We were just lucky the good Lord above took care of us,” he said. “I’ve been on my knees ever since.”
Williams was asked on Tuesday if he expected to go deer hunting in Mexico again.
“No, sir,” he answered.
Chapman was headed to Kansas in his still-dirty pick-up.
“I’m deer hunting north this time,” he said.
Sol Prendido Borderland Beat Source
Dr.Sol article rings more to it..... perhaps FBI has its Mexican contacts, and that's why you had different Mexican agencies out there, getting the cartel left and right, since FBI gave good Intel.
ReplyDeleteDamn lazy CDN sicarios could have washed both pick up trucks not just one.
ReplyDeleteLol serio!
DeleteJajaja
DeleteI bet Snitchloa sicarios wouldn't have washed any pickup but rather shot dead both these Americans and looted their stuff.
DeleteSol
ReplyDeleteI’ve heard that hunters do cross into Mexico with rifles but have to go through a though background check, how true could this be?
I am not Sol but---In Coahuila not only is there deer hunting, but exotic animal hunting ranches and mos the clientele is from Texas. Recall the foto of Lazca with the zebra? that was in coahuila.
DeleteHunters rarely have any problems.
yes hunters can take rifles into mexico for hunting but must complete permit application before entering country. and caliber is restricted. not everyone is approved
https://ahrensranchandwildlife.com/mexico-hunting
Take hunters to Mexico, never have a problem.
DeleteHigh fence hunting is not hunting it's shooting livestock
DeletePeople cross over from either side for the hunting. And whatever agreement a person has with the land owners pretty much just stays between you guys. Not everyone wants to deal with paperwork. So that should tell you something on how some people choose to operate.
DeleteSomeone important rode in the detailed truck.
ReplyDeleteGetting rid of prints and dna
The dirty truck was cannon fodder
@1244 absolutely correct
DeleteSol are you surprised that they didn't get wacked? Perhaps CDN has more common sense than we think to not hurt the Yankees.
ReplyDeleteIt is surprising. But I feel their initial high may have wore off and they just wanted to get away without any further complications. Why draw more heat on themselves? Could be their compassionate side bubbled to the surface as weird as that may sound.
DeleteUS citizens were in danger of death, that's why agencies went in full force to attack the cartel.
ReplyDeleteThe sicarios flee back to their families wanting to be with them. Have they ever spared that thought to any of their victims?
ReplyDeleteNo because their victims are usually cartel related if you get in a cartel you know your risking your families lives as well whether their involved or not
DeleteI mean , if the narcos did this to all people not just Americans , no piso and no extortion, i think no one would care about them. But sadly things have changed
ReplyDeleteVery true.
DeleteGringos tooling around rural northern Mexico in brand-new pickups, what can you expect? I wouldn’t drive around rural Mexico in any sort of brand-new car, much less an F-250.
ReplyDeleteSeems at least CDN has figured out the “don’t kill Americans” game.
ReplyDeleteProbably a ranch owned by a cartel compadre.
ReplyDeleteI have been stopped, but been lucky. I am from Texas. I go back every week no problem.
ReplyDeleteThat’s a crazy story and they’re lucky to be alive.
ReplyDeleteA free tank of gas and a car wash. These gangsters are softening. Que Suerte
ReplyDeleteThis story sounds like bs to me
DeleteSee...they're not so bad. Lol. Wtf. I had to read this twice because I didn't believe it the first time!
ReplyDeleteMaybe they took down the hunters' home addresses and told them "you say this or else"
Let it go already not all the people in that are bad, they do stupid things though
DeleteDetailed it to hide the prints.
ReplyDeleteBoy they acted fast on this matter, US trusts Marina's more than other branches in MEXICO.
ReplyDeleteFor those here that are REALLY in the know... is this statement accurate for non-involved travelers / tourists: “No problem, you’ll be OK. We don’t hurt Americans.”
ReplyDeleteIf yes, why is that the approach... keep US heat off or what?
I do recognize that there are lots of exceptions: Labaron massacre, Harry Devert (solo motorcyclist), Patrick Braxton-Andrew (Spanish teacher tourist), David Hartley (jet skier on Falcon lake), etc. - but in general is the approach not to F’ with Americans.
I’ve traveled to Mexico by motorcycle (pavement & off-road) for several years and have never had an issue... however lately I’m starting to reconsider my safety.
Take another trip and let us know how everything goes for you....
DeleteQueso
Actually I recently got back from a 10 day trip - 3rd one of 2019. Zero issues over the last several years, both riding solo & with a few mates. Considering if things are deteriorating too much of late.
DeleteBack 10 years ago the Gulf Cartel never hurt American Tourists. Zeta started that Krap
ReplyDeleteScared to death to lay a hand on an American now....even washed their truck...lmao!!
ReplyDeleteNow that's being respectful and not an asshole like others. Then again those that do are nothing but scavengers to make ends meet.
DeleteInteresting article BB.
ReplyDeleteWish all criminal organizations acted this way towards innocent civilians.