A man with suspected ties to Mexico's Gulf Cartel was found dead by police in Texas, after they said the man fatally shot a Mexican national in the town of Mission.

The shooting involving Joaquin Cibrian later turned into a standoff with local law enforcement. Police said he shot and wounded several police officers.

"Edinburg police investigators attempted to arrest Cibrian, 29, for the slaying of Gerardo Omar Melendez Verdin, 19, a Mexican national who'd been living in Mission", reported the McAllen Monitor newspaper. "Investigators obtained a warrant for Cibrian's arrest on a capital murder charge after Verdin was found dead July 16 in a vacant lot on the 2800 block of East University Drive.

"Verdin had been shot in the back of his head, Edinburg Police Chief Rolando Castañeda said.

"Six Edinburg officers responded to the La Joya house Tuesday afternoon after police there said they'd spotted a vehicle that matched the description of one linked to the capital murder case, Castañeda said.

La Joya police, Department of Public Safety troopers and sheriff's deputies "already were following the suspect's vehicle."

Police investigated Cibrian's use of social media, and found that he was posting things that showed he was part of a prison gang with direct ties to the Gulf Cartel.

"Cibrian's involvement with the Texas Syndicate linked him to the Gulf Cartel - the prison gang works with Mexican organized crime groups - increasing the risk he posed," according to the Brownsville Herald.

"The Texas Syndicate has its roots as a prison gang that started more than four decades in California. Today, it boasts more than 4,400 members across Texas - second-most among gangs in the state," according to the Monitor.

Groups within the Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas have been battling for control of the lucrative drug trade routes just south of the Texas border with Mexico.