Dog runs for shelter amid shootout in Puerto Vallarta in viral video as Mexican army combats narco gangs after ‘El Mencho’ killing; watch here

The Mexican army killed the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, "El Mencho," on Sunday, decapitating what had become Mexico's most powerful drug cartel and thrusting swaths of the nation into chaos. The death of the drug lord was met with a forceful reaction from the cartel, known by its Spanish initials CJNG.

As Mexican authorities battle the narco gangs wreaking havoc in Puerto Vallarta and other regions of the country, residents along with their pets are being forced to run for cover and seek shelter. A video circulating on social media shows a dog running for its life as intense gunfire erupts overhead.

In the 27-second clip, police are reportedly seen fighting to take back the entrance to Puerto Vallarta from cartel gunmen, according to TMZ.


WATCH VIDEO HERE



Fear swept across dozens of Mexican states after cartel members set cars ablaze, sending thick smoke billowing into the air, news agency AP reported. Roads were blocked amid the chaos. By Sunday night, civilians had hunkered down, turning Jalisco’s capital, Guadalajara, into a ghost town. Schools were cancelled on Monday in several states.

Amid the security operations, the US Department of State has issued shelter-in-place warnings for Americans at several popular tourist destinations in Mexico. The alert was issued on Sunday (February 22, 2026) for the Mexican state of Jalisco.

It includes popular tourist spots such as Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara, as well as the states of Tamaulipas, Michoacan, Guerrero, and Nuevo Leon. “Due to ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity, U.S. citizens in the named locations should shelter in place until further notice,” the department said in its security alert.