Throwback Series: Newly Uncovered Details on Z-1's Death

"Morogris" for Borderland Beat

This article is part of the Borderland Beat's exclusive "Throwback Series," delving into the old Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas.

The image above was the first mug shot of Arturo Guzmán Decena released by the former Attorney General's Office (PGR). Released in 2002, this photograph was featured on the PGR "Más Buscados" (Most Wanted) website, which has been unavailable since the mid-2000s.

It has been more than twenty years since Arturo Guzmán Decena, also known as Z-1, a founding member of Los Zetas, perished in Matamoros, Tamaulipas. However, a recent discovery of archival newspapers in the possession of Borderland Beat has brought to light fresh details regarding his death.

According to the majority of reports available online, Z-1 met his end in a confrontation with the Mexican Army. The precise details differ, but the main version suggests that Z-1 initially visited the said establishment and subsequently departed to visit his girlfriend, Ana Bertha González Lagunes, a few blocks away.

Allegedly, he cordoned off the street near Ana Bertha's residence to avoid disruptions, but a neighbor alerted security forces. When the Mexican Army arrived at the scene, they were shot upon arrival, ultimately resulting in Z-1's demise.

However, none of these versions align with the original investigation, news coverage, and eye witness testimonies that were reported in Matamoros back in 2002.

A rare photograph depicting the lifeless body of Arturo Guzman Decenas, also known as Zeta 1, covered in a white blanket. Although reporters managed to capture images of him without the covering, authorities on-site confiscated their hard copies. These pictures were then retaken by other photographers.

His Demise: Was It an Execution?

On the morning of 22 November 2002, residents of Matamoros woke up to the news of a man that was killed outside a restaurant. The front page of El Mañana's newspaper displayed an image of a deceased individual covered in a white blanket, wearing black boots, a white shirt, and blue jeans. His identity remained unknown that morning.

The restaurant, situated between 9th and Herrera Streets in downtown Matamoros, bore the name "Pisa y Corre".

The key element of this investigation comes to light through eyewitness accounts collected by reporters at the restaurant on the night of the murder and in the subsequent days. Borderland Beat currently possesses these reports.

According to statements given to news reporters, the man killed (who we know is Z-1, although he remained unidentified in initial reports) was having dinner inside the establishment when uniformed gunmen arrived unexpectedly. Witnesses recounted that the gunmen, who identified as law enforcement, forcibly removed Z-1 from the restaurant and executed him.

One witness, identified as Jorge, informed El Mañana reporters that Z-1 was dragged outside and killed by two assassins.

"At no point was there a shootout; instead, it was an execution carried out by two individuals," the witness stated.

Another witness employed at the restaurant reported that Z-1 was dining with another individual. When Z-1 went towards the restroom to wash his hands, the assailants abruptly entered the restaurant, forcibly removing him from the restaurant and executing him outside.

He said that the assailants were wearing green military uniform and also black police uniforms.

"They had their faces covered with ski-masks", the report said.

Several witnesses testified at the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) office in Matamoros days after the shootout and provided similar testimonies. 

Investigation and analysis

At the crime scene, authorities seized a green 2002 Chevrolet Suburban. This Suburban was abandoned after colliding with a wooden house near the restaurant. 

Investigators found a fragment of the Suburban's license plate holder (shown below). The inscription on it reads "M. Aleman, Tamps," abbreviating Miguel Alemán, Tamaulipas, indicating that the vehicle was acquired there.

Part of the vehicle's license plate holder recovered at the crime scene; the insignia reads "M. Aleman, Tamps" (photo credit: El Mañana, 2002)

As previously reported by Borderland Beat, Miguel Alemán played a pivotal role in the birth and ascent of Los Zetas, the former armed wing of the Gulf Cartel. This border town served as the starting point for the criminal careers of Z-1, Heriberto Lazcano Lazcano, alias Z-3, and other cartel members under the command of local cartel bosses Zeferino Peña Cuellar, alias Don Zefe, and Gilberto Garcia Mena, also known as El June.

The recovery of a vehicle from Miguel Alemán at the crime scene in Matamoros provides several insights. If the vehicle was driven by the perpetrators, it suggests they originated from Miguel Alemán and traveled to Matamoros, approximately 115 miles (185 km) away, to carry out the murder of Z-1. It is probable that the assailants were either affiliated with Los Zetas or the Gulf Cartel, both of which had a presence in Miguel Alemán.

There are accounts suggesting that Osiel Cárdenas Guillén, the highest-ranking leader of the Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas, experienced a rift with Z-1 in May 2002 following the death of their comrade Raúl Alberto Trejo Benavides, alias El Alvin, Z-6, and/or Z9-HK24, in a shootout against rival gang member Dionisio Román Garcia Sanchez, known as El Chacho. Z-1 was reportedly involved in threatening Cardenas Guillen for El Alvin's death, raising the possibility that Z-1's murder was an internal targeted attack.

Upon close examination of the obtained photo evidence, it was discovered that the Suburban that struck a wooden house close to the crime scene displayed at least four gunshots on its driver and back-seat windows. This suggests that the vehicle might have been involved in a shootout prior to or after the murder.

Reporters propose that this vehicle was employed by the assailants, who accelerated and lost control of the vehicle either upon arrival or departure from the restaurant. If this narrative holds true, it would suggest that the assailants were met with gunfire from armed individuals stationed at the restaurant, possibly Z-1's bodyguards or even Z-1 himself. Alternatively, it is possible that Z-1 himself was driving the Suburban, engaged in a vehicular pursuit, and then sought refuge in the restaurant before being forcibly removed and executed outside.

At the scene, the Specialized Unit Against Organized Crime (UEDO) detained three individuals, but their names or affiliations were never disclosed.

The green Suburban seized at the crime scene displayed multiple bullet holes on the driver and back-seat windows. The identity of the driver of this vehicle is unknown.

The restaurant Pisa y Corre (depicted above), where Z-1 met his demise, was situated between Herrera and 9th Streets in downtown Matamoros. It was known for offering traditional Mexican cuisine from Central Mexico and Puebla, Z-1's home state. The white markings on the street indicate the spot where Z-1 lost his life.

Aftermath

The case was shrouded in "absolute secrecy" for several days. Initially, when the news broke, Z-1 remained unidentified. It took approximately a week for authorities to officially confirm to the public that the individual in question was Z-1, described as a "high-ranking boss of the local mafia."

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Los Zetas were not as widely recognized as they would become in subsequent years. Very few sources mention Los Zetas before 2002. The earliest reference to this group that Borderland Beat has uncovered dates back to 1996. In a newspaper in our possession, there is a mention of an "Unidad Zeta" in the Matamoros Municipal Police. This was an auxiliary police unit headed by Jorge Eduardo Costilla Sánchez, alias El Coss, when he was still in the Matamoros police. The group was tasked with addressing organized crime activities. This may be where the group drew inspiration for its name.

Following the recovery of Z-1's body from the crime scene, it was transported to a local morgue and closely guarded by law enforcement. Reports indicated that he was buried after a private ceremony in Reynosa, although this information may be inconclusive, considering Z-1 was originally from the state of Puebla.

Rare picture of Angelica Lagunas Jaramillo, the owner of the restaurant where Z1 was killed. Gunmen carried at an attempt on her life a few weeks after Z1 was killed (photo credit: El Mañana, 2002)

About two weeks later, Angélica Lagunas Jaramillo, the owner of the restaurant, narrowly escaped an attempt on her life after leaving a store in Matamoros. She recounted that four men in a vehicle followed her while she was driving and shot at her before she managed to escape. During a police interview at her residence, she disclosed that suspicious men had visited her days after Z-1 was killed, warning her not to cooperate with investigators.

Lagunas-Jaramillo was reportedly in a relationship or married to high-ranking Zetas member Omar Lorméndez Pitalúa, alias El Pita and/or Z-10. Her restaurant, Pisa y Corre, was a popular establishment for early Zetas members. Z-1 was in a relationship with Angélica's daughter, Ana Bertha, who was also killed in 2007.

Sources (offline):

• Borderland Beat archives

• Rodríguez Duéñez, Rafael (22 November 2002) "Mortal enfrentamiento". El Mañana. Page 48. Section 6. No. 2348

• Rodríguez Duéñez, Rafael (23 November 2002) "Guardan absoluto hermetismo oficial". El Mañana. Page 44. Section 6. No. 2347.

• Espinosa, Raúl (24 November 2002) "Sospechan fue ejecución". El Mañana. Page 52. Section 6. No. 2348

• Espinosa, Raúl (29 November 2002) "Ejecutado era uno de los más buscados". El Mañana. Section F

• Pereda Rangel, Rosy (13 December 2002) "Tirotean a dueña del 'Pisa y Corre'". El Mañana. Section F. 

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