“EL ROY 19” JEFE DE PLAZA de LA LINEA (NCDJ) en San Juanito, Chihuahua

Violent Showdown in Chihuahua: High-Ranking Cartel Boss ‘El Roy’ Killed in Gunbattle With State Authorities

BOCOINA, Chihuahua — The high-altitude pine forests of northern Mexico’s Sierra Tarahumara region once again erupted into a theater of war late Saturday, August 22, leaving a trail of shattered glass, pulverized vehicle bodies, and bullet-riddled wreckage in its wake.

The firefight, which broke out in the freezing mountain air near the community of San Juanito in the municipality of Bocoina, culminated in the death of Roy Iván Manjarrez, a 33-year-old cartel commander known by his alias “El Roy” or “El H-19.” According to the Chihuahua State Attorney General’s Office (FGE), Manjarrez served as the local plaza boss for “Los Haches,” a prominent enforcement wing tied to the New Juárez Cartel.

The chaotic clash underscores the unrelenting violence plaguing Mexico’s remote northern corridors, where heavily armed criminal cells routinely challenge state and federal security forces in vicious turf wars for drug trafficking routes and extortion monopolies.

An Ambush on State Investigators

The sequence of events began unfolding on Saturday evening when officers with the State Investigation Agency (AEI) came under heavy gunfire during a routine patrol in San Juanito. The initial assault triggered an immediate emergency response, with state police and elements of the State Public Security Department (SSPE) mobilizing backup units to secure the perimeter.

As security forces flooded the sector, they discovered a scene resembling a war zone. Multiple late-model vehicles sat abandoned across the roadway, their chassis riddled with hundreds of high-caliber rifle rounds and their suspensions blown out from high-speed tactical collisions.

Inside a grey pickup truck bearing California license plates, authorities discovered the lifeless body of Manjarrez. The cartel leader was found slumped over the front seat, clutching an AR-15 assault rifle. Initial forensic assessments indicated he had sustained fatal gunshot wounds during the initial exchange of fire with state investigators.

Reinforcements Arrive Too Late

The confrontation, however, was far from over. As state police and military elements cordoned off the area to process the crime scene, a heavily armed convoy consisting of at least six trucks carrying reinforcements from the cartel arrived at high speed.

The convoy of gunmen attempted to break through police lines to rescue their plaza boss or recover his body. Instead, they were met with a ferocious counter-offensive by the state security forces.

Pinned down by superior positioning and heavy counter-fire, the criminal convoy scattered into the surrounding mountain darkness, retreating down isolated logging trails. Miraculously, despite the intense volume of gunfire exchanged during the ambush, state authorities confirmed that no police officers or state troopers were injured in the engagement.

Weapons, Tactical Gear, and Seized Evidence

Following the retreat of the cartel reinforcements, state investigators scoured the area, seizing a massive cache of tactical equipment and weaponry left behind by the fleeing gunmen.

Among the seized assets was a late-model RAM pickup truck, multiple high-capacity magazines, three heavy ballistic vests, and three sets of full tactical gear. Authorities also recovered eight individual packages containing green plant matter consistent with marijuana.

All recovered items, along with the vehicles and weapons, were transferred under heavy military guard to the custody of the Public Ministry, where federal and state prosecutors are continuing forensic analyses to track down other participants involved in the ambush.

A Region on Maximum Alert

In the wake of El Roy’s death, the Chihuahua state government and federal security agencies have ordered a state of maximum alert across the Tarahumara region. Intelligence units fear that the elimination of a high-ranking plaza boss could trigger retaliatory violence or touch off an internal power struggle within the New Juárez Cartel and its splinter factions.

Security forces have established permanent checkpoints along major access routes leading out of Bocoina, inspecting commercial vehicles and private cars for smuggled weaponry and suspicious personnel.

The death of Manjarrez marks a significant, albeit bloody, tactical victory for Chihuahua law enforcement, who have spent years trying to dismantle the leadership structure of Los Haches. Yet, as state investigators work to map out the precise timeline of Saturday’s gunbattle, the smoking wreckage in San Juanito serves as a grim reminder of the enduring volatility gripping northern Mexico.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Roy Iván Manjarrez (“El Roy”)?

Roy Iván Manjarrez, also known as “El H-19,” was a 33-year-old criminal leader identified by Mexican authorities as the plaza boss for “Los Haches,” an armed enforcement cell operating under the New Juárez Cartel in the municipality of Bocoina, Chihuahua.

Where did the shootout take place?

The violent confrontation took place on the night of Saturday, August 22, near the community of San Juanito within the mountainous municipality of Bocoina in Chihuahua, Mexico.

Were any law enforcement officers injured during the ambush?

No. Despite facing an initial assault on state investigators followed by a coordinated attack from a six-truck cartel convoy attempting to reinforce the area, state police and SSPE elements successfully repelled the attack without sustaining any casualties or injuries.