A view of a vehicle set on fire by unknown assailants after Ernesto Alfredo Pinon de la Cruz, known as "El Neto", was injured in a chase with the police and died minutes later when he was transferred to the Chihuahua Attorney General's Office, days after he fled prison during a violent mass jail break, authorities said in a statement, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico January 5, 2023. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez
An escaped Mexican cartel kingpin known as "El Neto" died after a shootout early on Thursday, four days after he fled prison in a violent mass break-out, authorities said.
El Neto", whose full name was Ernesto Alfredo Pinon de la Cruz, was tracked down by intelligence forces in the city of Ciudad Juárez on the U.S. border, and then shot after a pursuit, officials said.
"He was located, chased. He was injured, but on the way (to the state attorney general's offices) he died," Chihuahua state governor Maru Campos said on Twitter.
A view of a vehicle set on fire by unknown assailants after Ernesto Alfredo Pinon de la Cruz, known as "El Neto", was injured in a chase with the police and died minutes later when he was transferred to the Chihuahua Attorney General's Office, days after he fled prison during a violent mass jail break, authorities said in a statement, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico January 5, 2023. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez
"El Neto", a top gunman for the "Los Mexicles" cartel, escaped with 29 other inmates after raiders in armored vehicles attacked the prison in the border town of Juarez early on New Year's Day.
At least 19 people, including guards and other prisoners, died in the assault, one of Mexico's bloodiest prison raids in recent years, authorities said.
Police and security forces launched a manhunt. At least seven people, including police, were killed in another confrontation during the search in the state on Monday, authorities said.
A view of a damaged sign post near the place where Ernesto Alfredo Pinon de la Cruz, known as "El Neto", was injured in a chase with the police and died minutes later when he was transferred to the Chihuahua Attorney General's Office, days after he fled prison during a violent mass jail break, authorities said in a statement, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico January 5, 2023. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez
Federal authorities who arrived to restore order said they found inmates had set up a "VIP zone" in the state-run prison with stashes drugs and money.
State prosecutors in Chihuahua said the head of the Juarez prison had been dismissed and was under investigation alongside others.
Family members of prison guard killed during a riot at the Cereso 3 prison react over the coffin during a tribute to pay homage to the prison guards killed and to the police officers from the State Investigation Agency killed during the search for the fugitives, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico January 4, 2023. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez
(Reporting by Isabel Woodford; Editing by Jackie Botts and Andrew Heavens)
View of pieces of police cordon near the place where Ernesto Alfredo Pinon de la Cruz, known as "El Neto", was injured in a chase with the police and died minutes later when he was transferred to the Chihuahua Attorney General's Office, days after he fled prison during a violent mass jail break, authorities said in a statement, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico January 5, 2023. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez
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