In Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, a deadly attack has drawn international attention as authorities in Mexico investigate the targeted killing of two security advisors and the injury of a third. The victims were affiliated with both Mexican and U.S. law enforcement training programs, including advisory roles with the U.S. Department of State. The incident occurred on Friday evening and has prompted a wider investigation into organized criminal activity in the region.
The attack took place just before 9 p.m. as the three men were eating at a taco stand following a day of training sessions with Jalisco State Police. According to officials from the Jalisco State Attorney General’s Office, the victims were identified as Carlos Amador Chavela and Cesar Gustavo Guzman Gonzalez, both of whom were killed at the scene. A third man, Pablo Cajigal Del Angel, sustained serious injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment. All three had just completed teaching courses to local law enforcement personnel and were socializing with other officials prior to the attack.
The Jalisco State Attorney General’s Office confirmed to the Breitbart News Foundation the identities of the victims. According to the same source, Chavela and Cajigal served as advisors with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, a bureau that oversees efforts to combat drug trafficking and organized crime by strengthening foreign law enforcement institutions. Guzman, the second victim, had a career involving cooperation with Interpol, the Mexican Attorney General’s Office, and the Jalisco State Police.
The attackers reportedly arrived in a vehicle and opened fire on the group with dozens of rounds. The precise motive for the shooting remains under investigation, though officials have not ruled out links to organized crime. The city of Tlaquepaque is part of the larger Guadalajara metropolitan area and is widely recognized as territory under the control of Cartel Jalisco New Generation (CJNG), a criminal group that has been officially designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government.
Authorities have not released information on suspects or made any arrests related to the incident. However, the context of the location and the high-profile nature of the victims have raised concerns about the safety of foreign and domestic advisors working in regions with known cartel activity.
Three U.S. State Department Advisors Gunned Down at Taco Stand in Mexico
Prayers to the families. 🙏
Authorities in Mexico are looking into the targeted killing of two men and the injury to a third who provided training to Mexican police agencies and worked as advisors for the… pic.twitter.com/FMiX5d3Jhc
— NWRain-Judi (@RYboating) May 18, 2025
The timing of the attack follows closely on an announcement earlier in the week by the U.S. Department of Justice, which filed terrorism-related charges against a woman alleged to be a key logistical operator for CJNG. According to the charges, the woman was involved in the supply of explosives, including grenades, and in coordinating the smuggling of narcotics and human trafficking through areas such as West Texas.
While Mexican and U.S. authorities continue their joint investigations, the attack highlights the complex and often dangerous environment in which law enforcement cooperation occurs in Mexico. It also brings renewed attention to the influence of transnational criminal organizations and their potential reach into operations intended to strengthen state and local security institutions.
MEXICO: Chihuahuan U.S. Embassy Security Instructor Critically Wounded in Tlaquepaque Shooting
Pablo Cajigal Del Ángel, a security specialist from Chihuahua, Mexico, was critically injured in a shooting at a taquería in San Pedro Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, on Friday night.
The… pic.twitter.com/Car8Ng4AXX
— Auden B. Cabello (@CabelloAuden) May 17, 2025
Officials from both countries have not commented publicly on whether additional security measures will be implemented for future advisory missions or police training programs in high-risk areas. The investigation remains active, and further details are expected as authorities gather more evidence.
