Houston realtor shelters in Puerto Vallarta during unrest

Chris Garza was supposed to return home but is stuck after the death of cartel leader "El Mencho" sparked violence across the city.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Houston realtor Chris Garza was visiting Puerto Vallarta, Mexico when the death of cartel leader "El Mencho" sparked violent unrest across the city. Garza is now sheltering in place at his villa, awaiting the opportunity to return home safely.

Why it matters

The killing of a high-profile cartel leader often leads to retaliatory violence in Mexico, disrupting tourism and daily life for residents and visitors alike. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges of drug cartel activity in parts of Mexico and the risks it poses for American travelers.

The details

After the Mexican army killed Nemesio 'El Mencho' Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, the cartel retaliated by burning businesses and vehicles across multiple Mexican states. Garza, who was visiting Puerto Vallarta, woke up to see black smoke over the ocean and military helicopters flying overhead. He is currently sheltering in place at his villa, which is located further from the city center.

  • On February 23, 2026, the Mexican army killed cartel leader "El Mencho".
  • Garza was supposed to return home to Houston on Monday, February 24, 2026.

The players

Chris Garza

A Houston realtor who was visiting Puerto Vallarta, Mexico when the unrest broke out.

Nemesio 'El Mencho' Rubén Oseguera Cervantes

The leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, who was killed by the Mexican army.

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What they’re saying

“Yesterday, I was a bit anxious, obviously. But waking up this morning, it was really kind of a realization that I'm sure a lot of people are going to be afraid to come to Mexico for vacation in the near future. And I know for good reason of course, but the (Mexican) people do thrive on tourism. I really kind of feel sad for the Mexican people right now because this is their bread and butter ... I will be back. We just have to wait to let this kind of figure itself out first.”

— Chris Garza, Houston realtor (Houston Chronicle)

What’s next

Garza is awaiting updates on when he can safely return home, which he hopes will be either on February 26 or 27.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges of drug cartel violence in parts of Mexico and the risks it poses for American travelers, even in popular tourist destinations like Puerto Vallarta. It also underscores the economic impact on local communities that rely heavily on tourism.