Mexican location scout Carlos Muñoz Portal was shot to death in central Mexico last week. He was scouting for season four of Netflix’s hit show Narcos.
His body was found with multiple bullet wounds in a car in the remote area near San Bartolo Actopan near the borders of Hidalgo state, reports Variety. This area is said to have one of the highest murder rates in Mexico, with 182 cases of homicide reported in just the month of July. That is a ratio of 12.2 for every 100,000 residents, reports Variety.
Authorities do not know the circumstances that led to his death.
According to Variety, Netflix issued this statement: “We are aware of the passing of Carlos Muñoz Portal, a well-respected location scout, and send our condolences to his family. The facts surrounding his death are still unknown as authorities continue to investigate.”
Portal was a seasoned scout who worked for Stacy Perskie’s Mexico City-based production company Redrum.
According to Variety, season 4 of Narcos was said to be exploring the origins of Mexico’s infamous Juarez cartel. Season 3 focused on Colombia’s Cali cartel. Munoz’s murder now raises doubts about whether or not the show will stay in Mexico, or move back to Colombia. If it moves, hundreds of jobs would be at stake.
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