“Chaparro” Gunned Down in Restaurant in Tenosique, Tabasco Over Plaza Dispute

"HEARST" for Borderland Beat

An alleged cartel member and his bodyguard were gunned down in the middle of a restaurant after receiving threats from a rival cartel just shortly before. The alleged cause is an ongoing plaza dispute in Tenosique, Tabasco near the Mexico-Guatemala border.

At approximately 8:30 - 9:00 pm on May 29 2021, armed men entered the restaurant El Señorial, located in the city of Tenosique. They were later described as “hooded armed commandos” and were wearing tactical gear. The hooded men spotted a man known by the alias of “El Guatemala” or “Chaparro Guatemala” (“the short guy from Guatemala”).  He was accompanied by a bodyguard. The two men were sitting at a table, having dinner. 

The hooded men opened fire on both men, killing them both. Over a dozen gunshot wounds were later found on each of their bodies. Three other people who were present in the restaurant at the time of the shooting were injured. They were taken to a regional hospital within Tenosique. Law enforcement authorities cordoned off the area from the public. Investigators and forensic experts were called to the scene to process the evidence. 

Alleged text of a threat Chaparro received.

Social media users claim shortly  before his death, Chaparro received this threat, which read: 

Second call, Chaparro Guatemala. 

El Diablo has already arrived in Tenosique, now I want to see you respond to the beatings. 

People of Tenosique. This is the culprit behind all of the deaths that have been happening lately in Tenosique. If the police are owned by Chaparro Guatemala, then we will do justice by our own hands.  

Chaparro Guatemala, you are hours away from finally disappearing and Tenosique will return to tranquility.

How this threat was delivered is a bit unclear. El Señorial, the location of the shooting, is described as a restaurant and bar online. Whether the bar at El Señorial is a location for cartel associated drug sales is not reported and unknown.

Local media reports “Chaparro Guatemala” was targeted for a hit due to an ongoing dispute over control of drug trafficking and  human smuggling from the Mexico Guatemala border within the Tenosique area. He was also possibly known by the alias “El Guatemala”.

According to Tabasco Hoy, the criminal group Chaparro de Guatemala belonged to is currently in control of the Tenosique plaza. They allegedly have an understanding with municipal police in Tenosique and locals believe the municipal police actively cooperate with them. 

In the last few months, a rival group, which is led by a man known by the alias “El Diablo”, has been encroaching into the Tenosique plaza, trying to overtake it from Chaparro de Guatemala’s group. 

The larger cartel affiliations of these groups and overall control of the city of Tenosique is not discussed in the local press. Sinaloa Cartel, Cartel Jalisco New Generation, Los Zetas offshoots and the Gulf cartel were all thought to be present within the state of Tabasco based on Borderland Beat archives.

Warning: Graphic photos below.

Please Note: El Heraldo reported the shooting occured “Saturday night”. XEVT reported the shooting occurred at 9:00 pm. However Valor por Tamaulipas and Tabasco Hoy reported the shooting occurred at 8:30 in the morning. Photographs of the restaurant exterior appear to be taken at night.

Sources: El Heraldo de Tabasco, Tabasco Hoy, Valor por Tamaulipas, XEVT Radio

Photo Credit: @fernand17704066