Teacher Trying to Rob Jalisco Cartel Shot to Death

A teacher in North Carolina died in a shootout with members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel last week, police said on Wednesday.

Barney Harris, 40, who taught Spanish and coached basketball at Union Academy in Monroe, was allegedly gunned down while trying to steal drugs and money from a mobile home used by the Jalisco cartel, New York Post reported.

According to ABC 11, Harris and his brother-in-law Steven Stewart entered the Jalisco cartel's "stash house" on Wyatt Road in Green Level on Apr. 8.

Teacher Gunned Down in North Carolina

Authorities said the mobile home is owned by alleged Jalisco cartel member Alonso Beltra Lara, NBC News reported.

Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson said that Harris and Stewart busted into the trailer but were confronted soon after by Lara and other Jalisco cartel members.

"They were trying to find the money and drugs," Johnson noted. Johnson said that deputies responded around 1 a.m. to multiple calls of gunfire.

Upon arrival at the scene, police found Harris dead, while Lara suffered from multiple gunshot wounds. Lara, 18, was rushed to a hospital, but he later died from his injuries, police said.

According to the sheriff, Harris, who was shot multiple times, was wearing a bulletproof vest, gloves, and a mask.

Some 30 shell casings were found by investigators inside and around the trailer during their investigation. They also found 1.2 kilograms of suspected cocaine, five guns, and about $7,000 in cash. Johnson noted that "it was almost like an old Western shootout."

On the other hand, Stewart, 32, was arrested after a search in his home at Wadesboro on Sunday that revealed "objects" related to the incident. He was charged with first-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a felon, and first-degree burglary.

Johnson said he could not comprehend how Harris was involved in this kind of incident. He said it's just hard to understand that someone like Harris, who had a good life as a teacher and coach, would end up in this kind of crime.

Jalisco Cartel's Wrath

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel is one of the most powerful drug trafficking groups in the world. Apart from drugs, the Jalisco cartel is also notorious for murdering judges, cops, lawmakers, and even their comrades in the battle to control the U.S. drug trade operations.

The Jalisco cartel is also known for revenge and even cannibalism. Just last month, the corpse of a former lieutenant for the Jalisco cartel was found on a park bench outside of Guadalajara in Mexico.

His body was tightly wrapped in black plastic with a sign that reads "the traitor El Cholo" pinned to his body with knives. Carlos "El Cholo" Sanchez allegedly broke away from the Jalisco group to start his own drug cartel.

WATCH: 'Living a double life' | Union County Basketball Coach Killed in Shootout With Drug Cartel - From WCNC