Mexico Cartel: mexico cartel kingpin's death sparks Puerto Vallarta chaos

Smoke filled the sky and the swanky beach town of Puerto Vallarta erupted into chaos Sunday after the government killed a drug kingpin, triggering arson and attacks that left shops and cars ablaze and tourists and residents cowering in fear. The killing and the violence that followed have become linked to the mexico cartel leadership turmoil.

Military operation and killing

The Mexican military killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known by his nickname "El Mencho, " the head of the New Generation drug cartel, Sunday in a shoot-out 180 miles east of Puerto Vallarta, in the same state of Jalisco. Mexico had a $15 million reward for his capture.

Scenes of fire and barricades

Shops and cars were set ablaze, allegedly by cartel members, and burned-out shells of vehicles remained on the streets while damaged stores were heavily scorched from flames. Witnesses described taxis and buses positioned at intersections and bridges in and out of the Zona Romántica area that were torched and used as barricades. A video showed several cars in the parking lot of a Costco set ablaze.

Witness accounts and quotes

Jim Beck, an American tourist who sheltered in his Puerto Vallarta hotel, said the taxicabs were "all blown up and blocking the streets" and that "after this morning was the first time we actually felt fear. " Marcus Brady, a Chicago resident currently in Puerto Vallarta who shared videos of the violence, said the cartel’s intent was to send a message to the Mexican government and American and Canadian tourists: "If we want to, we will take complete control of everything and everyone here, no one can stop us. " Brady said the violence happened in two waves starting early Sunday morning. In the first wave a few cars were set on fire on the main road and bridges behind foothills; when those fires were going out "everyone thought it was over. I know I did, " he said. The second wave, he said, was worse and was targeted inside the Zona Romántica, and "when the second wave started, they coordinated setting them on fire, so it would last all day. The intention was to terrify. "

Attack on tourists and residents

Yoni Pizer said he, his husband and friends had to run for their lives to escape what he described as members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel in Puerto Vallarta. "The gunmen were following us and they were shooting, " Pizer said, and attackers were pulling people out of cars. His SUV was torched, but a passerby helped them get away.

Travel disruption and airport scenes

Video on social media showed sirens blaring and passengers and workers running through the airport in Puerto Vallarta; it was unclear why the sirens went off or why people were running. Images showed a long line of people hiding behind ticket counters. Road closures affected some travelers' ability to get to airports, U. S. and Mexican embassy and consulate.

Quiet mornings and canceled classes

Steven Polito, a drag performer who divides his time between New York City and Puerto Vallarta, wrote that he was struck by how "unusually quiet it was" when he went to the gym at 8: 30 a. m. Schools in several states canceled classes. A day after the violence broke out, streets were deserted Monday as locals and tourists heeded remain-in-place orders.

Smoke, scorched storefronts and burned vehicles remain visible in videos and images from the town, and residents and visitors have been told to shelter while authorities handle the aftermath of the operation that killed El Mencho.