Guadalajara zoo shelters more than a thousand visitors after death of 'El Mencho'
On 22 de febrero de 2026, the death of Rubén "N" — better known as "El Mencho" — triggered a wave of violence that left visitors stranded at the Zoológico de Guadalajara, where more than a thousand people will spend the night under police protection while authorities work to normalize roads.
Visitors held inside the Zoológico de Guadalajara
Visitors to the Zoológico de Guadalajara had to take shelter inside the park to avoid becoming collateral victims of street clashes and blockades after the killing of El Mencho in a Sedena operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco on 22 de febrero de 2026. What began as a family Sunday of watching animals turned into a day-long stay and, ultimately, an overnight at the park’s parking area.
Who was Rubén "N" — "El Mencho" and where he fell
Rubén "N", better known as "El Mencho", was the head of the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG). His death came during an armed confrontation with personnel from the Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional (Sedena) in Tapalpa, Jalisco on 22 de febrero de 2026. The fall of one of the country’s most powerful criminal figures set off blockades, vehicle and business burnings, and multiple confrontations across Jalisco.
Numbers, origins and who stayed overnight
More than a thousand people were left sheltered in the Zoológico de la Zona Metropolitana de Guadalajara (ZMG). One account lists visitors from Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Michoacán and Zacatecas; another account adds Nayarit to that list. The travelers will spend the night in the zoo parking where there are 21 autobuses, cinco furgonetas y cuatro vehículos particulares.
Police, DIF Jalisco and zoo staff on site
The Policía del Estado provided vigilancia and accompaniment for those stranded, with officers remaining overnight to guarantee safety while the roads are restored. The DIF Jalisco will supply cobijas, agua potable y pañales, and the zoo’s bathrooms will be available for use. The director of the Zoológico explained that the excursions were already inside the park when the events began, so closing access and keeping families in the interior was chosen as the safer option; some zoo employees also stayed to help.
Citywide unrest: arrests, incidents and local disruptions
The violence that followed the Sedena operation produced blockades on Guadalajara streets and highways in Jalisco and neighboring states, with reports of vehicles and businesses set on fire and multiple confrontations. Authorities detailed 25 detenidos — 11 por violencia y 14 por rapiña — and police also detained two suspects tied to vehicle burnings. Officials flagged 55 incidentes en 23 municipios de Guanajuato after the death of El Mencho. The unrest prompted the suspension of classes for Monday and led to cancelled flights at the Aeropuerto de Puerto Vallarta.
How families coped and what locals did
Among those resguardados at the zoo were menores, adultos mayores y bebés. Some family members in Guadalajara came to the perimeter to bring food and basic items. Local reactions ranged from a Catholic Church call to REZAR por la paz en México to a street vendor in Guadalajara who kept selling tacos despite the operativo por código rojo.
Authorities say the situation in Guadalajara is under control while follow-up operations continue after the death of El Mencho. The next confirmed items on the calendar are continued security operations and the normalization of access to highways and city streets as officials work to reopen passages and allow the stranded visitors to return to their home cities.
