On 5th April 2017, teenaged human rights defender  and indigenous community leader Luis Gustavo Hernandez Cohenete was killed by armed police agents along with three other members of the indigenous community while they were taking part in a protest linked to disputed lands between Arantepacua and Capacuaro in Michoacán.

During the protest,  a large contingent of heavily armed police officers and soldiers arrived in the village and opened fire indiscriminately, killing three men and one minor: Santiago Crisanto Luna, José Carlos Jiménez Crisóstomo, Francisco Jiménez Alejandre and the minor, Luis Gustavo.

The community are claiming title to land in the areas of Arantepacua and Capacuar, consisting of 500 hectares of land. The dispute also centres on the issue of control of pine and oak forest resources, and logging opportunities.