On November 23, 2023, Eduardo Escobedo, known as "El Mago," was fatally shot in an industrial area of Willowbrook, Los Angeles County. Escobedo, aged 39, was a convicted drug trafficker with ties to the Sinaloa cartel, specifically serving as the primary local marijuana distributor for Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar, the son of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.
The incident occurred near the intersection of Rosecrans and Towne Avenues, a locale characterized by warehouses and commercial facilities. Authorities responded to reports of a shooting around 8:30 a.m. and discovered Escobedo and another man, 47-year-old Guillermo De Los Angeles Jr., deceased at the scene. A third individual sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital for treatment.
Escobedo's criminal history includes a nearly five-year federal prison sentence for conspiring to distribute over 10,000 kilograms of marijuana and laundering drug proceeds; he was released in 2018. Raised in East Los Angeles, he was known to launder drug earnings by purchasing exotic cars and shipping them to Culiacán, Sinaloa's capital. Additionally, he was alleged to have ordered the 2008 murder of a rival trafficker on the 101 Freeway, though he was never charged in that case.
Following his release, Escobedo ventured into the culinary industry, establishing a chain of restaurants and food trucks known as Benihibachi, later rebranded as Besthibachi due to trademark disputes. Despite these legitimate business endeavors, he maintained a lavish lifestyle, frequently showcasing his wealth and connections on social media, including associations with celebrities such as Floyd Mayweather and Al Pacino.
The circumstances leading to Escobedo's death remain under investigation. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officials noted that a gathering or party had taken place at the location from the previous night into the early morning hours. As of now, no arrests have been made, and authorities have not identified any suspects or established a clear motive for the killings.
