The Guadalajara International Airport shootout refers to the unsuccessfull assassination attempt on Sinaloa Cartel member Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán by members of the Tijuana Cartel and their Logan Heights Gang allies on May 24, 1993. The shootout left seven people dead.
The shootout made international headlines after Arch-Bishop Juan Jesús Posadas Ocampo was accidentally ambused by the Logan Heights Gang gunmen.
Shootout[]
Chapo and Arturo Beltrán Leyva arrived the airport and met with their police contacts. Simultaneously, narcojuniors of the Tijuana Cartel arrived at the airport along with Logan Heights gang hitmen hired by David Barron Corona. Ramón Arellano Félix had Barron and the Logan Heights gangsters search for Chapo at the parking lot, while he searched for Chapo inside the terminal along with Alfredo Hodoyan and Romeo Soto.
At 4:15 PM, Chivo spotted Chapo outside the airport and began firing at them. He was quickly shot dead by Chapo's police contacts. Ramón and the narcojuniors stormed outside and killed the corrupt police officers, forcing Chapo and Arturo to descend down to the parking lot and flee. Ramón sees them entering a white Lincoln Grand Marquis and radios Barron to look out for that particular car.
The chaos resulted in a jam at the parking lot forcing Chapo to abandon his car. Spooky spots another car matching Ramón's description, and the Logan Heights gang members quickly make their way there and began indiscrimnately firing into the car. However they realize that they've shot the wrong person when Barron opened the car doors to look for Chapo's body.
The Tijuana Cartel gunmen discover Chapo hiding in the parking lot and another shootout takes place, forcing Chapo back into the airport terminal. Chapo and Arturo sneak through the baggage conveyor belt, and make their way to the other side of the airport. They commandeer an airport taxi and flee. Ramón unsuccessfully searches for Chapo inside the airport, and callously kills civilians along the way. Barron tells him that the police are on their way and the Tijuana Cartel and Logan Heights gang members escape in a Taesa flight sent by Carlos Hank González.
Aftermath[]
The death of Cardinal Posadas resulted in a public outcry against drug traffickers, forcing the President to send General Jesús Gutiérrez Rebollo to takeover the city of Tijuana and hunt down the leaders of the Tijuana Cartel. Logan Heights gang members Spooky and Puma surrendered to the Mexican authorities for the murder of the Cardinal.
Despite not being involved in the Cardinal's death, Chapo was named as one of the main perpetrators of the shootout. A $15 million bounty was placed on his head, forcing him to leave the country. He was eventually arrested two months later in Guatemala, and was extradited back to Mexico.
Amado Carrillo Fuentes convinced Carlos Hank González to cut his ties with the Tijuana Cartel after the shootout.
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