Mexico: Cartel capo killed in shootout with federal forces

A bullet ridden sports utility vehicle is taken away by authorities after a gun battle with Mexican Marines in which a suspect identified by authorities as the leader of the Beltran Leyva cartel, Juan Francisco Patron Sanchez and several accomplices died in the exchange, in Tepic, Nayarit state, Mexico, early Friday, Feb. 10, 2017. The Interior Department said that Juan Francisco Patron Sanchez headed up the cartel's operations in the state of Nayarit and in the southern part of Jalisco state. (AP Photo/Chris Arias) (The Associated Press)

The rear windshield of a vehicle is held together by a transparent film with an image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, after being struck by a couple of bullets in Culiacan, Mexico, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. The Sinaloa state prosecutor’s office said in a statement that several suspects and a Mexican marine died in an early morning clash after heavily armed men attacked the marines while on patrol in the city. (AP Photo/Rashide Frias) (The Associated Press)

State police guard the area after a gun battle with Mexican Marines in which a suspect identified by authorities as the leader of the Beltran Leyva cartel, Juan Francisco Patron Sanchez and several accomplices died in the exchange, in Tepic, Nayarit state, Mexico, Friday, Feb. 10, 2017. The Interior Department said that Juan Francisco Patron Sanchez headed up the cartel's operations in the state of Nayarit and in the southern part of Jalisco state. (AP Photo/Chris Arias) (The Associated Press)

Mexican authorities say an alleged regional leader of the Beltran Leyva drug cartel has been killed in a shootout with federal forces.

The Interior Department says via Twitter that Juan Francisco Patron Sanchez headed up the cartel's operations in the state of Nayarit and in the southern part of Jalisco state.

The Mexican navy reports late Thursday that seven "accomplices" were also killed.

The Interior Department said more details would be released Friday.