Cartel gunmen shot down a Mexican military helicopter in the latest wave of violence to hit that country which left seven dead, 15 injured and 15 gunmen arrested in the Mexican state of Jalisco.

The office of Jalisco’s Governor Aristoteles Sandoval confirmed to Breitbart Texas through a prepared statement that the violence in his state affected 20 municipalities including six suburbs of Guadalajara and 14 other cities. The fighting took -place through 4 separate shootouts which led to seven deaths including three Mexican soldiers, one police officer, two suspected gunmen and one bystander. The three soldiers were killed when their Mexican military helicopter was forced down in a hail of gunfire. Authorities arrested 15 suspected gunmen as well.

The fighting and blockades left thousands of citizens stranded and resulted in 11 banks, one credit union and 5 gas stations being set ablaze. There were numerous attempts to torch other buildings as well.

The fighting also left 13 injured soldiers, one injured gunman and one police officer injured. Their condition is unknown at the time of this publication.

“I am informing all Jalisco residents that the three levels of government are working in a coordinated fashion to take care of the security in the state,” Sandoval said in a prepared statement provided to Breitbart Texas. “The events from this morning are a reaction to Operation Jalisco which is aimed at arresting members of a criminal organization. We must remain calm authorities are informing and will continue informing through official channels.”

The violence kicked off Friday morning around the various cities in the Mexican state of Jalisco where Mexican authorities tried to apprehend Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes who is the head of Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion, Mexican federal police sources confirmed to Breitbart Texas.

While his capture has not been officially confirmed or disproven, the operation set off a series of fiery blockades and shootouts in Guadalajara and surrounding cities.

As previously reported by Breitbart Texas, Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion jumped into the national spotlight in recent weeks when they ambushed a state police convoy and killed 15 officers. That attack came just weeks after the CJNG ambushed a federal police convoy killing five Mexican Federales and two bystanders.

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