Guadalajara zoo shelters more than 1,000 people overnight after death of ‘El Mencho’
Visitors at the Zoológico de Guadalajara were held inside the park and will spend the night in its parking lot after a federal operation on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, that killed Rubén "N, " widely known as "El Mencho. " The decision to keep families inside the zoo came as blockades, attacks and confrontations closed roads across Jalisco and the Zona Metropolitana de guadalajara and left excursions from other states stranded.
Guadalajara zoo parking becomes overnight refuge
More than 1, 000 people — described in initial coverage as "mil personas" — remained inside the zoo and will sleep in the facility's parking area, which holds 21 buses, five furgonetas (vans) and four private vehicles. Police officers provided constant surveillance and accompaniment as families waited for roads and highways to reopen.
How the Tapalpa operation set off blockades and attacks
The federal operation that killed the head of the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación took place in Tapalpa, Jalisco, where Sedena personnel engaged in a confrontation. Helicopters and ráfagas of gunfire broke the calm in Tapalpa, and Ranchito Pinto was placed under scrutiny during the operation. The fall of Rubén "N" — one of the most wanted by the United States and the leader of the CJNG — triggered a wave of violence with blockades on roads that affected vehicles and businesses and produced multiple confrontations across the state.
Who was trapped at the zoo and how they were supported
Authorities identified visitors from Aguascalientes, Nayarit, Guanajuato, Michoacán and Zacatecas who had arrived on excursions and were unable to return when the blockades began. Among those sheltered were minors, older adults and babies. Some family members in Guadalajara came to the zoo perimeter to bring food and basic items. The zoo director said excursions were already inside the park when the code red activated, so closing access and keeping families in the interior was considered the safest option; some employees stayed at the facility to help.
DIF Jalisco will provide blankets, potable water and diapers, and zoo bathrooms will remain available for overnight use. Elements of the Policía de Jalisco maintained security at the site while zoo staff and local authorities coordinated assistance. State police who traveled to the area remained on guard after being stranded by blockades in different points around the city.
Wider fallout: detentions, suspended classes and cancelled flights
Authorities reported operations continued after the death of El Mencho and said the situation in Guadalajara was under control while they carried out security actions. Officials detailed 25 detainees linked to the unrest — 11 for violence and 14 for rapiña (looting) — and announced the suspension of classes on Monday. Authorities also documented 55 incidents across 23 municipalities in Guanajuato tied to the unrest and described a report of saldo blanco alongside detentions and reinforced surveillance. Flights at the Aeropuerto de Puerto Vallarta were cancelled amid the wave of violence.
Voices, reactions and local scenes
The death of El Mencho reverberated through Jalisco and beyond; coverage noted how what began as a family Sunday at the zoo turned into a day of chaos and terror for thousands who could not leave before confrontations spread. Local scenes included a taquero in Guadalajara who continued selling during the red-code operation and a call from the Catholic Church urging people to pray for peace in Mexico. Media coverage also highlighted questions about the CJNG's future leadership, naming the Oseguera surname and a possible role for Jessica Johanna.
One media outlet noted it forms part of a larger news group and began operations on May 18, 2015, on social networks and on Nov. 8 of that year on the web; unclear in the provided context whether that operational detail changed the immediate response on the ground.
The next confirmed steps are continued security operations in Jalisco and the planned coordination of departures once state authorities deem the roads safe for travel; zoo officials and DIF Jalisco said they will maintain support overnight while families wait to return home.
