▁from ▁the ▁military . ▁Rein for c ements ▁from ▁organized ▁crime ▁arrived ▁at ▁the ▁scene ▁in ▁an ▁attempt ▁to ▁save ▁his ▁life , ▁but ▁he ▁was ▁shot ▁dead ▁inside ▁the ▁property . ▁Following ▁his ▁death , ▁the ▁gun men ▁left ▁the ▁prem ises . ▁The ▁fire f ight ▁left ▁five ▁more ▁gun men ▁associated ▁with ▁him ▁dead , ▁along ▁with ▁a ▁Mexican ▁Army ▁soldier . ▁ ▁Inside ▁the ▁house , ▁authorities ▁discovered ▁several ▁assault ▁rif les , ▁including ▁a ▁Bar rett ▁ 5 0 ▁rif le ▁and ▁A K - 4 7 s , ▁along ▁with ▁gr en ades , ▁cart rid ges , ▁and ▁other ▁weapons ▁the ▁crim inals ▁used ▁to ▁combat ▁law ▁enfor cement . ▁M ell ado ▁Cruz ' s ▁death ▁came ▁amid ▁an ▁internal ▁power ▁struggle ▁within ▁the ▁G ulf ▁Cart el , ▁as ▁rival ▁fa ctions ▁within ▁the ▁organization ▁fight ▁for ▁the ▁control ▁of ▁Reyn osa ▁and ▁the ▁rest ▁of ▁T ama ul ip as ▁with ▁each ▁other ▁and ▁Los ▁Z et as , ▁their ▁former ▁al lies . ▁Days ▁prior ▁to ▁his ▁death , ▁gun f ights ▁in ▁Reyn osa ▁had ▁left ▁a ▁total ▁of ▁at ▁least ▁ 2 3 ▁dead , ▁including ▁two ▁innoc ent ▁by stand ers , ▁a ▁couple ▁of ▁federal ▁polic emen , ▁a ▁soldier , ▁and ▁eigh teen ▁sus pected ▁crim inals . ▁ ▁In ▁order ▁to ▁confirm ▁the ▁drug ▁lord ' s ▁identity , ▁the ▁Mexican ▁government ▁carried ▁out ▁for ens ic ▁anth rop ology ▁studies , ▁where ▁they ▁analyz ed