Whole areas of western Mexico have been all but shut down after a surge in cartel violence sparked by a military raid that killed one of the world's most wanted drug traffickers, known as El Mencho. Schools were closed in several Mexican states, and foreign governments warned their citizens to stay inside after the drug lord, whose real name is Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, was declared dead on Sunday.
Nothing suggests his mood has changed, much less for the better. In a phone call that same Saturday, minutes after the attack, which has so far left four police officers dead, Zepeda became angry at the comment about how many years he has been fighting against the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). We're not fighting, we're resisting! he protested before hanging up.