Tourists staying at the Tapalpa Country Club, a luxury hotel in western Mexico, were unaware that their neighbor was drug lord Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho. Their ignorance was shattered early Sunday morning when the sound of automatic gunfire disrupted their stay, as Mexican security forces confronted El Mencho, who was seriously injured during the skirmish and subsequently died while being transported to a hospital.

The luxurious Tapalpa Country Club, known for its rural Mexican architecture, unexpectedly turned into a crime scene as it became evident that El Mencho was using the hotel as a hideout for a meeting with his mistress. Local authorities swiftly surrounded the hotel following the gunfight, which reportedly lasted about two hours, causing panic among the hotel guests who were awakened by the chaos. One tourist described the traumatic experience of being roused by the sound of gunfire between security forces and the drug lord's armed protection detail.

In the aftermath of the incident, hotel management issued a lockdown, instructing guests to remain in their rooms until the situation was under control. This drastic enforcement highlighted the alarming reality of drug-related crime in Mexico, raising concerns over tourist safety in areas that have previously been perceived as secure. The event underscores the ongoing struggles between law enforcement and organized crime in the region, particularly involving high-profile figures such as El Mencho, whose criminal activities have long impacted the country.