A Chicago resident described his harrowing encounter with members of Mexico’s most powerful drug cartel after it retaliated with violence in cities across the country following the killing of its leader by the Mexican military.
Yoni Pizer, his husband and friends took off running for their lives after being attacked by members of Jalisco New Generation Cartel in the popular tourist destination of Puerto Vallarta.
“The gunmen were following us and they were shooting,” Pizer said. “And they were attacking cars and pulling out drivers. At that point, we just ran as fast as we could.”
Pizer’s SUV went up in flames.
Thankfully, a good Samaritan drove up and whisked the group away.
But at some point – he was separated from his husband.
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Later – Pizer would find out his husband took refuge in an orphanage as he locked down in their condo.
“Obviously we want them to get home but it’s about two, three miles from where we live and the government is saying no one should leave their homes right now,” he said.
Roughly 200 miles away in Guadalajara, Omar Casillas was about to cross the finish line in a half-marathon when he noticed people running – away from the race.
Then he saw the text messages from his family.
“Barricade the door, pack all your stuff, be ready to leave if you need to, if you have the chance to,” Casillas recounted. “Right now, I’m not sure what to do.”
On Sunday night, Casillas was hunkering down in his Airbnb.
His flight out of Guadalajara’s airport was canceled as buildings and cars burn.
Smoke filled the air over cities as cartel members blocked roads and threatened to shoot civilians in the street.
“They easily could have killed all of us,” Pizer said. “They had us all right there and then.”
