Mexican authorities discovered the body of Aquiles Gomez Martinez, brother to Knights Templar leader "La Tuta" and believed to be one of the group's leaders in his own right.

Police found Gomez's body in his home in Lazaro Cardenas Friday morning, according to EFE. The port city is located on Mexico's Pacific coast within the troubled state of Michoacan, where the Knights Templar are very active.

Gomez is the brother of Knights Templar leader Servando "La Tuta" Gomez Martinez as well as Flavio and Luis Felipe Gomez Martinez, two other leaders within the drug cartel.

In his home, police found a 9 mm pistol, two ammunition clips and a box containing 50 rounds of ammunition, the Michoacan state attorney general told reporters.

Univision reports Gomez Martinez was found with a gunshot wound through the mouth in an apparent suicide, but government authorities have begun an investigation.

According to the BBC, the group has been wreaking havoc through western Mexico, especially Michoacan state, since 2011 when the Knights emerged. Since then group has become one of the largest exporters of marijuana and methamphetamines in the country.

The administration of President Enrique Pena Nieto, however, has not stood by idly. His administration has dealt some serious blows to drug cartels. In the last year or so, three of the group's top leaders have either been arrested or killed.

The three Knights Templar leaders killed or captured are Enrique Plancarte, known as "Kike"; Dionicio Loya Plancarte, known as "El Tio" (The Uncle); and Nazario Moreno, known as "The Craziest One."

The Pena government also arrested former head of the Sinaloa cartel, Joaquin "Shorty" Guzman, in February.

Yet, the violence in the region continues. On Friday police discovered six bodies near the city of Uruapan in Michoacan, according to The Associated Press. A sign next the bodies of the six dead men said the New Generation cartel from neighboring Jalisco state claimed responsibility.

As the Knights Templar's influence wanes under the pressure of government forces and vigilante groups, a new drug cartel may be attempting to take over their turf.