WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT 

Heavy fighting broke out in Culiacán in northern Mexico on Thursday sparked by the brief arrest of Ovidio Guzmán López, one of El Chapo's sons

The cartel overpowered the army and Guzmán López was eventually released but the fighting raged on into the night and the death toll is now at least eight 

At least 16 people were reported injured during the war-like battle that raged for hours 

On Friday, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said he supported the decision to release Guzmán López 

The leftist leader said innocent lives were at stake and that the government is trying to avoid a full-blown war with organized criminal organizations 

Cartel fighters took grenade launchers and machine guns to the streets in revolt

Children were filmed hiding behind cars as gunfire rang through the city