The Mexican government has arrested Jorge Armando N., accused of orchestrating the Nov. 1 shooting that killed Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo. Officials say he directed a cartel cell via an encrypted messaging app to surveil and attack the mayor; two suspected accomplices were found dead on Nov. 10 amid the probe. Authorities allege the suspect led a cell linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, designated earlier this year as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government. The investigation is ongoing.
Suspect Arrested Over Assassination of Uruapan Mayor; Authorities Link Him to Cartel Cell
Mexican authorities announced the arrest of a man they say helped plan and order the deadly shooting of Carlos Manzo, the mayor of Uruapan, during a public event earlier this month.
At a news conference, Public Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch identified the detainee as Jorge Armando N. and said the arrest occurred Tuesday afternoon. Officials allege the suspect used an encrypted messaging app to direct members of a criminal cell, instructing them to surveil Manzo, monitor his movements and carry out the attack.
Authorities said two individuals tied to the same cell, named as Fernando Josué N. and Ramiro N., were later found dead on a highway on Nov. 10; officials say those killings were intended to obstruct the investigation. García Harfuch also said investigators believe Jorge Armando N. served as a leader within a cell linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), which the U.S. government designated a foreign terrorist organization earlier this year.
Manzo was killed in a shooting in Uruapan's city center on Nov. 1 while attending an event marking the Day of the Dead. Mexican authorities have said two other people tied to the attack were arrested previously and that one assailant died during the incident.
Manzo took office as mayor in September 2024. He periodically joined local street security patrols wearing a bulletproof vest and in June posted a video calling on Mexico's federal government to intensify efforts to combat violent crime.
Regional Context
Michoacán has long been affected by violence and organized crime, with powerful drug cartels operating across its agricultural regions and extorting farmers and producers. In a recent related case, Bernardo Bravo, a prominent leader of lime growers who had publicly denounced extortion demands, was killed last month.
What investigators say: Officials point to encrypted communications and coordinated surveillance as evidence the attack was planned. The arrests and subsequent deaths of alleged accomplices are unfolding as the probe continues.
Authorities say the investigation remains active and additional arrests or developments are possible as officials work to dismantle the cell responsible for the mayor's assassination.
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