Carlos Manzo, mayor of Uruapan in violence‑plagued Michoacán, was shot seven times at a Day of the Dead vigil and later died in hospital. He had publicly criticized President Claudia Sheinbaum for what he called an insufficient response to cartels and was known for a hardline approach to organized crime. Security Minister Omar García Harfuch opened an investigation and vowed there would be no impunity. Manzo had a sizable protective detail, including 14 National Guard members.
Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo, Known for Hardline Stance on Cartels, Shot Dead at Day of the Dead Vigil
Carlos Manzo, mayor of Uruapan in violence‑plagued Michoacán, was shot seven times at a Day of the Dead vigil and later died in hospital. He had publicly criticized President Claudia Sheinbaum for what he called an insufficient response to cartels and was known for a hardline approach to organized crime. Security Minister Omar García Harfuch opened an investigation and vowed there would be no impunity. Manzo had a sizable protective detail, including 14 National Guard members.
18:33, 03.11.2025Security
Uruapan mayor gunned down during Day of the Dead vigil
Carlos Manzo, the mayor of Uruapan in the western Mexican state of Michoacán, was shot at a Day of the Dead vigil on Saturday night and later died of his wounds at a nearby hospital. State officials said he had been hit seven times.
Manzo had been an outspoken critic of Mexico’s approach to organized crime and had publicly challenged President Claudia Sheinbaum for what he described as insufficient action against drug cartels. Michoacán is one of the states hardest hit by cartel violence.
"We need greater determination from the president of Mexico," Manzo told local reporters in September, pledging not to take "a single step back."
He also warned: "I do not want to be just another mayor on the list of those who have been executed and had their lives taken away from them. I am very afraid, but I must face it with courage."
In May he directly challenged the president’s strategy: "If she thinks she’s going to detain these criminals without a single shot fired and that they’ll just turn themselves in, well, she should get it done. And believe me, if she manages to do that, I will immediately submit my resignation."
Mexico’s Security Minister, Omar García Harfuch, said authorities have opened an investigation into the killing and offered condolences to Manzo’s family and the people of Uruapan. At a press conference Harfuch pledged that "there will be no impunity."
Authorities said the mayor maintained a substantial security detail, including officers personally selected by him and 14 members of the National Guard. The killing raises fresh concerns about the reach and brazenness of criminal groups operating in Michoacán.
Manzo’s confrontational approach to crime earned him the nickname the "Mexican Bukele," a reference to El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele and his hardline anti‑gang policies. Reports indicate Manzo had been publicly critical of President Sheinbaum’s cartel strategy since her inauguration in October 2024.
Investigation and context: Federal and state authorities say they are investigating the attack. The incident highlights the continuing risks faced by local officials in regions where cartels exert significant influence and operate with lethal force.