On February 12, singer Ángela Aguilar and performer Christian Nodal found themselves in the midst of a shootout near the El Soyate ranch in Zacatecas as they were leaving the family property. Authorities confirmed they were not the target of the attack, which arose during an operation against suspected criminals. The couple took refuge in Pepe Aguilar's house and were safely escorted to the airport.
The incident took place around 5:00 p.m. on February 12 on federal highway 54, near the municipality of Villanueva, Zacatecas. According to state prosecutor Cristian Paul Camacho Osnaya, a security operation by the Army and National Guard aimed to detain suspected members of a criminal group, including a violence generator linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. During the action, four individuals were captured: Alberto ‘N’ aged 47, Claudio ‘N’ aged 18, Juan Carrera ‘N’ aged 21, and Flavio Alberto ‘N’ aged 38, the alleged plaza boss in Tabasco.
Ángela Aguilar and Christian Nodal, who were leaving the El Soyate ranch owned by the Aguilar family, witnessed the confrontation by chance. 'By very bad luck, just as Ángela and Christian were leaving the ranch (…) they happened to see how this aggression unfolded', explained Rodrigo Reyes Muguerza, Secretary of Government of Zacatecas, in an interview with Ventaneando. Upon noticing the shootout, their private security team decided to return to the ranch and take refuge in Pepe Aguilar's main house, as he was in Mexico City.
At 5:52 p.m., they requested assistance from authorities. Once the situation was under control, Army, National Guard, and state police elements escorted them from Villanueva to Zacatecas airport, where they boarded a private plane to Mexico City around 10:00 p.m. Videos shared on social media, such as those by C4 Jiménez, show the couple walking hand in hand, surrounded by uniformed personnel wearing vests from the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection.
Authorities, including President Claudia Sheinbaum in her February 13 conference, ruled out any targeted aggression against the Aguilar family or kidnapping attempt. 'It was not an attack against the Aguilars', Sheinbaum stated. Prosecutor Camacho denied that the artists suffered injuries or were in shock, noting their vehicles were undamaged, though the confrontation left marks on the road from an explosive.
Pepe Aguilar issued a statement the same day: 'Contrary to what many media outlets are asserting, I am in Mexico City. My family is well (…) an active operation is taking place near my house'. The couple continued with their commitments, traveling to Veracruz and performing at the Auditorio Nacional.