Did the Costco in Puerto Vallarta really burn down? The shocking images circulating on social media suggest so, but the truth is far more nuanced. After a video surfaced on X (formerly Twitter) showing the Costco parking lot engulfed in flames, with thick black smoke billowing into the sky, the world was quick to assume the worst. The footage, shared by none other than Elon Musk, went viral, becoming a symbol of the unrest that erupted following the reported death of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes on Sunday, February 22, 2026. But here’s where it gets controversial: later videos appear to show the Costco store itself completely intact, untouched by the fire. Neither Costco México nor local authorities have issued a statement, leaving many to wonder: Was the store truly a target, or was the damage limited to the parking lot? And this is the part most people miss: while the Costco incident grabbed global attention, it was just one piece of a much larger wave of arson attacks that swept across Mexico that day. Dozens of Oxxo convenience stores were set ablaze in multiple states, including Quintana Roo, Baja California, Estado de México, Puebla, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Querétaro, Morelos, and Chiapas. The attacks were seemingly coordinated, with some locations experiencing multiple attempts. For instance, in Guanajuato alone, over 60 Oxxo stores were targeted, alongside other businesses like Farmacias Guadalajara and Banco de Bienestar. But why Oxxo? And what does this say about the broader implications of El Mencho’s alleged death? These questions have sparked heated debates online, with some arguing the attacks were acts of retaliation by criminal groups, while others see them as a desperate attempt to create chaos. What’s your take? Do you think these incidents were isolated, or part of a larger strategy? Let us know in the comments—this is a conversation that needs more voices.
