For nearly three hours, Roberto Marquez’s brother-in-law was confined to the improvement store following advisories by Mexican authorities to shelter in place.
JALISCO, Mexico — A Mexican-born artist who now resides in Texas, recalled how his brother-in-law spent hours at Home Depot in Jalisco amid the chaotic aftermath of a military operation that killed notorious drug lord “El Mencho.”
“It’s very chaotic right now,” Marquez said from his home in Dallas.
Marquez has crafted memorials and painted murals following numerous tragedies, ranging from the Robb Elementary shooting in Uvalde to the 53 migrants who died in a semi-truck to the devastating Hill Country floods of 2025.
Marquez was in Guadalajara just a few months ago where he set up a community painting workshop. Today, he’s watching events unfold from Texas, concerned about the wellbeing of his family back home.
“People are sad and at the same time, they’re scared,” Marquez said.
Civil unrest erupted across parts of Mexico this weekend following the reported killing of cartel kingpin, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as “El Mencho,” in a military operation.
Amid the unrest, Mexican authorities and U.S. officials urged residents to shelter in place. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott was among those monitoring the situation and advising caution for Texans with ties to the region.
In the hours following reports of the drug cartel leader’s death, violence broke out in several areas of Mexico. Buses and businesses were set on fire, highways were blocked and armed groups appeared to send a message that the organization remains active despite the loss of its leader.
By Monday, many businesses in Jalisco and other regions remained closed and streets in some areas were largely empty.
Marquez said his brother-in-law, Javier, was shopping for construction supplies at a Home Depot near downtown Guadalajara when the government issued advisories to shelter in place.
“An incident broke out. He was told by the store owners not to get out,” Marquez said. “They closed the doors because they didn’t want nobody to get out because it was a dangerous situation.”
For roughly three hours, customers and employees remained inside the store until authorities deemed it safe to leave. A day later, some businesses continued to stay closed due to ongoing security concerns.
Despite the uncertainty, Marquez said his brother-in-law, who has a construction business to run, is trying to move forward.
“He figured that he just needs to continue with his life and try to conduct business as usual,” Marquez said.
Marquez believes that sentiment is shared by many in Mexico.
He expects there will be continued attempts at rebuilding trust between the government and citizens. However, he thinks somehow diminishing the cartel influence on Mexican society is bound to be met with even more challenges, especially after the death of El Mencho.
“Anything can help us,” Marquez said. “Hopefully we’ll get to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”