The mayor of the city of Uruapan in the western Mexican state of Michoacán was fatally shot on Saturday during a public event, local authorities confirmed.
Carlos Manzo was attending a cultural gathering of the Day of the Dead outside a church in Uruapan when armed assailants opened fire, according to Spanish newspaper El País.
Two suspects have been arrested, and one of the alleged attackers was killed at the scene, El País reported.
Why It Matters
The killing highlights the persistent threat of gang violence in Mexico, where local officials often become targets amid conflicts between powerful criminal organizations. Despite government efforts to curb cartel activity, attacks on public figures continue to expose the country’s ongoing struggle to maintain public safety.
What To Know
Manzo was attacked shortly after 8 p.m. and later died at a hospital from his injuries, according to Michoacán Attorney General Carlos Torres Piña. Five gunshots were heard in the town square, according to a report by El País.
In a video statement posted on social media early Sunday, Torres Piña said police had found a 9-millimeter handgun at the scene and were working to determine the identity of the assailant.
Manzo, who assumed office as mayor in September 2024, was known to occasionally accompany local security patrols while wearing a bulletproof vest, AFP reported.
He had made a stand against the cartels and crime syndicates operating in the region, including demanding strong federal support and publicly identifying the presence of heavily armed criminal factions.
Manzo had publicly criticized Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s strategy targeting organized crime and had urged federal authorities to provide stronger support to local governments. In recent months, he posted videos expressing concern for his safety. Michoacán is known for its violent cartel activity and has seen multiple attacks on public officials in recent years.
In October 2024, journalist Mauricio Cruz Solís, who had just interviewed Manzo, was fatally shot in Uruapan.
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel maintains an active presence in the region. Cells operating there have been linked to armed convoys, highway blockades, and the burning of vehicles and businesses in retaliation for government action.
What People Are Saying
Michoacán Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla wrote in a post on X: “We strongly condemn the cowardly attack in which Uruapan’s mayor, Carlos Manzo, lost his life, for which two people are already detained and one more has been killed. The secretary of public security, Juan Carlos Oseguera Cortés, and the National Guard are in the municipality coordinating security actions.”
What Happens Next
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the shooting, and authorities are continuing their investigation into the motive and full circumstances surrounding the killing.
