Eduardo 'El Mago' Escobedo: Convicted drug trafficker linked to notorious Sinaloa cartel shot dead in LA
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A convicted member of the Sinaloa cartel, known for his connections to the son of incarcerated drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman and his penchant for sharing photos alongside celebrities like Al Pacino, was shot dead along an industrial stretch near Los Angeles on Thanksgiving morning, November 23.
Eduardo Escobedo, 39, and Guillermo De Los Angeles Jr, 47, a convicted drug dealer, were both fatally shot on Towne Avenue in Willowbrook, California, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Referred to as “El Mago” or “The Magician,” Escobedo, once the cartel’s top marijuana trafficker, reportedly served four years and nine months in federal custody for conspiring to distribute over 10,000 kilos of marijuana (approximately 22,000 lbs) and laundering drug proceeds. He was released in 2018.
The shooting occurred in an industrial area filled with warehouses, and both Escobedo and De Los Angeles died of their injuries at the scene.
A third man, not identified, was wounded and taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds, as per the Los Angeles Times.
An affiliate of the Chapitos known as El Mago was reported killed this morning in Compton, Los Angeles.
— Ioan Grillo (@ioangrillo) November 24, 2023
A source in LA said it's linked to arrest of El Nini in Mexico.
It's being said in LA:
a) Those close to El Nini are being hit and
b) El Mago informed on El Nini
(Source) pic.twitter.com/90DmEFWZ9I
No arrests have been made in connection to Eduardo Escobedo's death
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the shooting was reported minutes before 8.30 am on Thursday, November 23, near the intersection of Rosecrans and Towne avenues.
Homicide Lieutenant Omar Camacho spoke with KABC-TV Channel 7 at the scene of the crime, saying, “We have no motive at this time. It appears that there was some type of gathering or party at the location from last night to early this morning.”
After responding to a report of gunfire in the warehouse-filled industrial neighborhood, the Sheriff's deputies and firefighter-paramedics arrived at the site and discovered Escobedo and De Los Angeles Jr lying dead in the parking area of the property.
A third individual suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds and was transported to a nearby hospital. The surviving victim who remained anonymous is reportedly in stable condition.
A business owner from a nearby building revealed that the property where the deadly shooting happened is also rented out for parties. It consists of warehouses and other commercial facilities.
There were no arrests made, and neither a description of a probable culprit has been provided. "It's too early in the investigation to figure out if we have a possible suspect detained or witnesses that we still need to contact," Lt Camacho stated.
How Eduardo Escobedo became ‘El Mago’
Hailing from East Los Angeles, Escobedo rose to prominence as the local primary marijuana distributor for Guzman’s eldest son, Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, as reported by the LA Times.
He reportedly funneled the profits into purchasing luxury cars, which were then shipped to Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa and the stronghold of the cartel.
Escobedo was also suspected of orchestrating the murder of a rival trafficker, killed in his Bentley on the 101 Freeway in 2008, as per the New York Post.
Although Escobedo was never formally charged in connection with the murder, his brother and another individual were convicted and are currently serving life sentences.
In October 2013, prosecutors revealed that Escobedo was intercepted on a wiretap discussing the smuggling of over five tons of marijuana through a tunnel beneath the US-Mexico border with Guzman Salazar, as per the source outlet.
Guzman Salazar remains one of Mexico’s most sought-after fugitives.
Escobedo, in recent years, reportedly showcased his lavish lifestyle on social media, posing alongside celebrities like Floyd Mayweather and Al Pacino.
His wardrobe reportedly featured flashy tracksuits from Dolce and Gabbana, complemented by a diamond-encrusted Richard Mille watch.
One striking photograph captured Escobedo holding a duffel bag brimming with money, while another showed him embracing a member of the Mexican Mafia with a bottle of Dom Perignon champagne in hand, according to LA Times.
