Mexican and U.S. authorities confirmed that at least one gunman dressed up as a clown shot dead 63-year-old Francisco Rafael Arellano Felix, a former leading member of the powerful Tijuana drug cartel, BBC News reported. The attack took place during a family party at a rented beach house in Cabo San Lucas, a tourist resort. The confirmed murderer was wearing a clown costume "complete with a wig and round red nose," Sky News reported.
"He was hit by two bullets, one in the chest and one in the head," said Isai Arias, a Baja California state official. Local media reported that the killer had two accomplices, but this had yet been confirmed, a spokesman for state prosecutors said.
The gunman fled the scene.
Felix, along with his brothers, had controlled much of the drug trade on border between Mexico and the U.S., but their Tijuana cartel had been decimated in recent years, due to the capture and killing of other leading members, mostly within his family, news reports said. Felix had spent 15 years in prison for his leadership role.
Security experts said that they believe the Tijuana cartel is currently being run by his sister Enedina and her son Fernando, known as "The Engineer," Agence France Presse reported.
His brother Eduardo pleaded guilty to money laundering, and was jailed for 15 years in August, BBC News also reported. Ramon, another brother, was killed in a police shootout in 2002. His younger brothers Francisco Javier and Benjamin are also serving prison sentences in the U.S.
The seven Arellano Felix brothers' drug trade activity inspired characters in "Traffic," the 2000 film directed by Steven Soderbergh.
