Bro Of Key Witness In El Chapo Trial Murdered In Mexico

Story ByAna LacasaSub EditorJoseph GolderAgencyCentral European News

Picture Credit: CEN

The brother of a key witness in the trial of convicted drug lord Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman has been shot dead.

Adolfo Lopez Nunez, brother of alleged drug lord Damaso Lopez Nunez, alias ‘El Licenciado’ who was an associate of El Chapo, was shot dead by armed men in the town of Quila, near the city of Culiacan in the western Mexican state of Sinaloa. 

Nunez, whose brother was reportedly a key witness in the trial of El Chapo when he was handed a life sentence in New York, in the United States, was shot dead in a house after three vehicles containing three groups of heavily armed men arrived on the scene.

Witnesses report that Adolfo tried to run away through the back of the house but he died in the back garden.

Red Cross paramedics arrived at the scene to try to help the victim but he had already died. The general prosecution of the state were then called along with a forensics team

The gunmen managed to flee the scene without being identified, according to reports.

Local authorities report the victim did not have a criminal record and had no links to criminal incidents.

Damaso Lopez Nunez was arrested on 2nd May 2017 in Mexico City and was called to the stand during the trial of El Chapo.

Damaso is said to have been El Chapo’s financial operator. Another of his brothers, Alvaro, is currently jailed in the United States after he was caught trying to enter the state of Arizona and was charged by the American authorities with conspiracy to smuggle drugs.

El Licenciado reportedly fought for control of the Pacific Cartel against Ivan and Alfredo Guzman after El Chapo’s extradition to the United States. 

The investigation into Adolfo’s death is ongoing and no arrests have been reported. It is currently unclear if he was murdered in retaliation for his brother testifying in the trial.

Picture Credit: CEN