On the evening of November 1, 2025, the city of Uruapan in Mexico’s violence-plagued state of Michoacan was thrust into chaos as gunmen opened fire during a public Day of the Dead event, fatally wounding Mayor Carlos Manzo. According to Mexico’s National Public Security Agency, the attack unfolded in the city center, where crowds had gathered to mark the annual celebration. As gunshots rang out, panic erupted and attendees scrambled for cover, scenes that were later captured in videos widely shared on social media.
The brazen assassination of Manzo, who had taken office just over a year earlier in September 2024, is the latest in a grim series of attacks targeting local politicians in Mexico, a country where violence against public officials has become alarmingly routine. Authorities confirmed that two suspects linked to the attack were arrested, while one of the assailants was killed during the incident. The local attorney general, Carlos Torres Piña, stated in a video address that the attack occurred shortly after 8 p.m. and that Manzo died at the hospital from his injuries. A 9-millimeter handgun was recovered from the scene, though officials have yet to clarify the total number of assailants or the precise motives behind the killing.
Manzo, who was known for his hands-on approach to security, often joined police patrols in Uruapan while donning a bulletproof vest. In a video posted to his social media account in June 2025, he made a direct appeal to federal authorities, urging them to intensify efforts against violent crime. "We need the federal government to do more to tackle violent crime," he declared, highlighting the persistent threat posed by organized criminal groups in Michoacan. Notably, he had voiced concerns about his own safety in recent months, posting videos in which he admitted to fearing for his life.
The state of Michoacan has long been one of Mexico’s most troubled regions, beset by powerful drug cartels vying for control over lucrative agricultural and trafficking routes. According to Nova TV and other outlets, these criminal organizations have made a business out of extorting local farmers and have established a climate of fear that permeates daily life. Uruapan, a key agricultural hub, has not been spared from this violence. The city and its surroundings have become a battleground not just for rival gangs, but also for public officials who dare to challenge the status quo.
Manzo’s murder came just days after the killing of Bernardo Bravo, a farmer representative in Michoacan who had spoken out against cartel extortion. Bravo’s death, like Manzo’s, reflected the risks faced by those who publicly oppose organized crime. The back-to-back killings have sent shockwaves through the local community and drawn renewed attention to the escalating crisis of law and order in Mexico.
Recent history offers a grim context for Manzo’s assassination. Over the past year alone, several other mayors have been killed in Mexico under circumstances strikingly similar to those in Uruapan. Last month, the mayor of Pisaflores in central Mexico was gunned down by armed assailants. In June, two separate attacks left the mayor of a southern Mexican town and her staff member dead, followed by the murder of another mayor and her husband in the country’s west the very next day. Even high-profile figures in the capital have not been immune; in May, the personal secretary and an adviser to Mexico City’s mayor, Clara Brugada, were shot by gunmen on a motorcycle in the city center. Brugada, who succeeded Claudia Sheinbaum as mayor of Mexico City, holds the second most powerful political office in the country after the presidency.
Manzo’s political journey was marked by both courage and controversy. Initially a member of the ruling Morena party, he ran for mayor as an independent in 2024, breaking ranks with his former allies. His outspoken criticism of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s approach to combating organized crime put him at odds with national leadership. Earlier this year, Sheinbaum publicly criticized Manzo after he called on local police to "kill criminals who attack civilians," a statement that drew both support and condemnation. Manzo’s tough stance on crime resonated with some residents, but also made him a target in a region where cartel influence runs deep.
The violence that claimed Manzo’s life is not an isolated phenomenon. Mexico has been gripped by drug-related bloodshed for nearly two decades, with criminal organizations exerting increasing control over local economies and political structures. The western state of Michoacan, with its fertile farmland and strategic location, has become a focal point in this ongoing conflict. Cartels have diversified their criminal enterprises, moving beyond drug trafficking to include extortion, kidnapping, and control of key agricultural products.
In the aftermath of Manzo’s assassination, local and federal authorities have faced mounting pressure to address the security crisis. State governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla confirmed Manzo’s death in a social media post, while the Security Cabinet released a statement indicating that the investigation is ongoing. Yet, for many residents of Uruapan and Michoacan, such official pronouncements offer little reassurance. The repeated targeting of mayors and other public officials has fostered a sense of vulnerability and mistrust, as those charged with protecting the community often become victims themselves.
The dangers extend beyond political figures. Last year, a journalist was fatally shot in Uruapan moments after interviewing Manzo, underscoring the hazards faced by anyone who challenges the criminal order. The risks are so grave that some officials now routinely wear bulletproof vests and travel with armed escorts, a stark reminder of the perilous environment in which they operate.
As investigators work to unravel the circumstances surrounding the attack, the people of Uruapan are left to grapple with the loss of a mayor who, despite the risks, chose to confront the violence head-on. Manzo’s death, like those of other recently slain officials, raises urgent questions about the future of governance and security in Mexico. Can local leaders continue to serve their communities amid such relentless threats? And what will it take to restore a sense of safety and justice in regions long dominated by organized crime?
For now, the killing of Carlos Manzo stands as a stark testament to the dangers faced by those who dare to lead in the shadow of cartel violence.
