Mother, Brother of Ex-CJNG Leader Killed in Tecate - News Directory 3

In a tragic incident on Sunday morning in Tecate, Baja California, the mother and brother of a suspected leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) were killed during a targeted attack. Authorities reported that the shooting took place around 9:30 a.m. on the Tecate-El Hongo free road, near Rancho Ojai.

Witnesses cited by Zeta Weekly described how armed assailants in a truck and another vehicle pursued a car carrying two adults and a minor. The family, traveling in a black Chevrolet Equinox, came under fire, leading to their vehicle overturning. The attackers proceeded to exit their vehicles and continued firing, hitting the Equinox with over 15 shots from a .223 caliber weapon.

Unfortunately, the two adults were pronounced dead at the scene, while a 17-year-old was rushed to a hospital with multiple gunshot wounds. Civil Protection officials responded by temporarily closing the area to secure public safety and advising travelers to steer clear of the route.

The victims are believed to be related to Ismael Gómez Sierra, known as "El Chiquilín" or "The Commander," who was an alleged leader of the CJNG in Tecate and a former municipal police officer. Gómez Sierra was arrested in 2020 and was associated with various criminal activities including drug trafficking and bribery.

Gómez Sierra was found dead in his prison cell on January 2, 2025, following a history of criminal charges and incarceration for organized crime. He was previously connected to the murder of Alfonso Zacarías Rodríguez, a former Tecate city councilman, underscoring the violent and complex nature of the criminal landscape in the region.