Gulf Cartel Leader Killed, 55 Others in Matamoros, Mexico

In an unsigned story (read:  Texas reporters fear for their lives so they don’t use bylines) The Brownsville Herald reported that the head of the Gulf Cartel, Ezequiel “Tony Tormenta” Cardenas Guillen, and at least 47 others were left dead in a downtown shootout in Matamoros, Tamaulipas in Mexico Friday.

From the story:

“Mexican authorities confirmed that Ezequiel ‘Tony Tormenta’ Cardenas Guillen — one of the two leaders of the Gulf Cartel and a pivotal figure in recent border drug wars — was killed in a shootout in Matamoros Friday.

“Violence across the city throughout the day left at least 47 others dead, including a reporter for a Matamoros newspaper, sources with knowledge of the situation said.

“Three of Cardenas Guillen’s aides, or bodyguards, also were killed, according to Alejandro Poire, spokesman for the Mexican government. He gave no other information other than confirming the death of Cardenas Guillen and his aides.

“Two Mexican soldiers also were killed, according to a release Friday night by the Mexican navy. That statement gave a total of six dead in Matamoros and said that “as of 7:45 p.m. it had no confirmation” of a death toll of more than 40…

“Ezequiel Cardenas Guillen is the brother of Osiel Cardenas Guillen, who formerly was the head of the Gulf Cartel; he was caught in Matamoros in 2003, extradited to the U.S. and convicted of drug trafficking.”

UPDATE:

Shooting continued Saturday and the death toll has risen to at least 55, some say more than 100.