The Turmoil Surrounding the La Nueva Familia Michoacana Top Leadership

 "Enojon" and "Char" for Borderland Beat 

Image By: López-Dóriga Digital (Image of La Familia Michoacana Leadership) 

The Attack 

Kevin Arzate Gómez ‘El K03,’ a principal member of ‘La Familia Michoacana,’ was killed during a targeted attack on August 11th while accompanied by a security detail in Coyuca de Catalán, Guerrero. According to initial reports, Gómez would leave a rodeo located near Coyuca de Catalán along with his cousin and a security detail when he was attacked by unidentified gunmen, killing the group before fleeing the scene. 

News reports would conflict on the number and role of the victims, claiming his cousin had formed part of his security detail as a bodyguard, while others alleged the death toll to be as high as four, although the family member of Gómez has not been identified yet. 

Video By: Los Señores del Narco (Funeral services of Kevin Arzate Gómez ‘El K03')

The funeral services would later be held in the hometown of Gómez in Pungarabatito, Guerrero, where two videos and images of the ceremony would show presumed family members and supporters mourning as they surround a wooden casket with a cross design, and its transport alongside another casket to an unknown area. Although we were unable to confirm where the services took place, the footage appears to have been potentially recorded at a nearby soccer field (Coordinates: 18.26852039602619, -100.65954597305716). 

While initial reports would state the attack was perpetrated as retaliation for his alleged links to the rival criminal organization, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, other motives have been suspected.

The Disappearance 

On August 13th, claims would circulate through social media alleging that Uriel Tabares Martínez 'El Medico,' a principal member of La Familia Michoacana, had gone missing after failing to attend a meeting set up by José Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga. The meeting, which called for the following leaders: 

- Kevin Arzate Gómez ‘El K03’

- Uriel Tabares Martínez 'El Medico' 

- Euclides Camacho Goicochea 'Quilles' 

- Rodolfo Maldonado Bustos 'El JP' or 'Don Bustos' 

Had been set up following the death of an individual identified as 'El Cholo,' Head of gunmen for La Familia Michoacana, although none of the invited figures would allegedly show up. 

The aforementioned figures were sanctioned on June 20th by the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control or 'OFAC' for their involvement in the trafficking of migrants and illicit substances such as fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine into the United States. 

Image By: U.S Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (June 20th Familia Michoacana sanction chart) 

According to local reports, El Cholo had been killed following a dispute with Goicochea in Coyuca de Benítez, Guerrero, where Cholo would allegedly threaten to kill Goicochea, who would respond by physically submitting Cholo and promptly executing him with the aid of Martínez. In response, the Familia Michoacana leader, José Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga 'El Fresa', would set up a meeting with the aforementioned figures as he was troubled by the killing of a close member under his leadership, but they failed to respond. The lack of participation has been attributed to their links to the armed wing of Bustos, a leading figure whose history extends as far back as operating for 'Los Caballeros Templarios'. 

After retrieving his remains, a funeral service will be held on August 7th by family members of Cholo in an undisclosed area of Olinalá, Guerrero where upon leaving the ceremony they'd be attacked by gunmen near the intersection of Amatlicha - Ixcamilpa, killing seven and injuring three with Officers of the Ministerial Investigative Police and Forensic personnel of the Prosecutor's Office being deployed to the scene to investigate. Reportedly, after becoming aware of the attack, Olascoaga would order those responsible to be pursued and allegedly resulted in the deaths of multiple gunmen operating under 'Quilles,' 'El Medico' and 'El Kevin', although his role in the death of Cholo is unclear. We were unable to confirm if any additional killings in retaliation for Cholo's death took place. 

Image By: Zumpango Mpio de Olinala (Image of white SUV targeted during the attack)

On August 19th, information allegedly obtained by an individual with close ties to the family of Martínez would claim he was alive following his release by the organization's figureheads, José Olascoaga, and his brother Johnny Hurtado Olascoaga 'El Pez,' although no additional information on the incident was disclosed. 

Images of individuals mentioned in the piece: 

Kevin Arzate Gómez ‘El K03' 

Image By: United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control 

Uriel Tabares Martínez 'El Medico' 

Image By: guerrerolibre12 on Twitter

Euclides Camacho Goicochea 'Quilles' 

Image By: United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control

Rodolfo Maldonado Bustos 'El JP' or 'Don Bustos' 

Image By: TV Azteca 

José Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga 'El Fresa' 

Image By: Libro Negro on Twitter

Johnny Hurtado Olascoaga 'El Pez' 

Image By: Libro Negro on Twitter

Sources: Hyperlinked in Text