Guerrero Flores, known as the 'child warrior', was at the helm of the powerful Tren de Aragua gang before his death in a raid announced by Trump on Friday
The Tren de Aragua leader killed in a joint US-Venezuelan operation was a high school dropout who enjoyed a comfortable lifestyle behind bars as he turned a prison gang into one of Latin America's most formidable and far-reaching criminal networks.
Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, also referred to as Nino Guerrero, or "child warrior," passed away at 42 during a raid that US President Donald Trump revealed on Friday, with Venezuela subsequently confirming the event.
Established in Venezuela in 2014, Tren de Aragua has been classified as a terrorist organization by the United States and is thought to operate across eight South American nations, such as Colombia, Peru, and Chile.
The group is accused of drug trafficking, extortion, and other illicit activities, and Guerrero carried a US$5 million bounty from the US.
Hailing from Maracay, a city roughly 100km (60 miles) from Caracas, Guerrero dropped out of high school and soon became entangled in criminal activity. By 2010, at age 26, he faced accusations of robbery, murder, and kidnapping.
He was incarcerated at a prison called Tocoron in Aragua state—which inspired the gang's name—escaped, was recaptured two years later, and returned to Tocoron.