A tragic wave of violence struck Mexico once again on Saturday night, when Carlos Manzo, the mayor of Uruapan in Michoacán state, was shot and killed during a candlelight ceremony. The outspoken mayor, who had long appealed to President Claudia Sheinbaum for more resources to combat drug trafficking, was attacked shortly after 8 p.m. and later died in hospital from his injuries, according to Michoacán Attorney General Carlos Torres Piña.
Videos circulating online show chaotic scenes of gunfire and residents running for cover. Authorities confirmed that police killed the gunman at the scene and arrested two suspects linked to the attack. The motive behind the assassination remains under investigation.
A Vocal Critic of Federal Security Policy
Mayor Manzo had become known as a fierce critic of President Sheinbaum’s approach to security, frequently calling for greater federal assistance to local governments battling powerful cartels.
In several recent videos, he expressed fear for his safety, warning that officials in Michoacán were being left to face organized crime alone. Often seen joining local patrols wearing a bulletproof vest, Manzo accused national authorities of neglecting the growing violence in his state.
The dangers of speaking out in Michoacán are well-documented last year, a journalist was killed moments after interviewing Manzo, highlighting the deadly risks for those challenging cartel influence.
Michoacán’s Ongoing Security Crisis
Michoacán remains one of Mexico’s most violent regions, where rival cartels, including the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, battle for control of lucrative drug routes.
Earlier this year, President Sheinbaum publicly criticized Manzo after he urged police to use lethal force against heavily armed criminals attacking civilians.
Investigators recovered a 9mm handgun from the scene of the shooting, and authorities are working to confirm the gunman’s identity.
“We strongly condemn this cowardly attack,”
wrote Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla, announcing that the National Guard had been deployed to maintain order in Uruapan.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the killing, but the assassination has reignited national debate over Mexico’s inability to protect public officials from cartel-related violence a crisis that continues to challenge the country’s leadership.
