Tragedy struck Mexico on Saturday as a gunman assassinated a mayor who had been a persistent voice against the rampant drug trafficking in his state of Michoacán. The mayor, Carlos Manzo, had repeatedly appealed to President Claudia Sheinbaum for more resources to combat the powerful cartels.
Manzo’s life was cut short after he attended a candlelight vigil in Uruapan, Michoacán. He was shot just after 8 p.m. and succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital, as confirmed by Carlos Torres Piña, Michoacán’s attorney general. The motive behind this heinous act remains under investigation.
Footage circulating on social media captured the terrifying moments of the attack, with the sound of gunfire prompting dozens of attendees to scatter in panic. State Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla later announced Manzo’s death, adding that authorities had neutralized the assailant and apprehended two other individuals in connection with the crime.
Known for his outspoken criticism of President Sheinbaum’s strategies against organized crime, Manzo had persistently demanded greater federal support. In the months leading up to his death, he had shared videos expressing fears for his safety. Disturbingly, a journalist was killed last year in Uruapan shortly after an interview with Manzo.
Michoacán has unfortunately become a focal point for Mexico’s most brutal cartels, locked in a violent struggle for control over lucrative drug routes. Earlier this year, Manzo faced criticism from President Sheinbaum after he advocated for local police to use lethal force against criminals targeting civilians. Despite initially being a member of her Morena party, Manzo chose to run as an independent in 2024.
Investigators recovered a 9-millimeter firearm from the scene and are actively working to identify the individual responsible for the shooting, Attorney General Torres Piña shared in a video statement early Sunday.