A mayor in Mexico’s western state of Michoacán was fatally shot during the Day of the Dead celebrations on Saturday night. Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez, the mayor of Uruapan municipality, was attacked in the town’s historic center, where he was surrounded by a crowd celebrating the significant cultural event. Despite being rushed to a hospital, he succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival.
The violent act also injured a city council member and a bodyguard who were present during the incident. According to Omar García Harfuch, the Federal Security Secretary, the gunman fired seven shots before being killed at the scene. The weapon used in the shooting was reportedly linked to previous clashes between rival criminal groups operating in the region. García Harfuch stated, “No line of investigation is being ruled out to clarify this cowardly act that took the life of the mayor.”
Michoacán is notorious for its violence, being a battleground among various drug cartels and criminal organizations vying for control over territory and drug distribution routes. The alarming trend of targeted attacks on local politicians has raised concerns among residents and officials alike.
In the aftermath of the mayor’s assassination, hundreds of Uruapan residents expressed their grief and anger by taking to the streets on Sunday. Dressed in black and holding photographs of Manzo Rodríguez, they accompanied his funeral procession, chanting calls for justice and expressing dissatisfaction with the ruling party of President Claudia Sheinbaum. Manzo Rodríguez had previously reached out to Sheinbaum via social media, seeking assistance in combating the cartels and accusing Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla, the state governor, and local police of corruption.
The funeral procession was marked by poignant symbolism, with a man leading Manzo Rodríguez’s black horse, adorned with one of the mayor’s distinctive hats placed on the saddle. Musicians dressed in black played traditional mariachi songs in a heartfelt tribute to their fallen leader.
Manzo Rodríguez had been under protection since December 2024, shortly after taking office, with his security enhanced in May to include municipal police and 14 National Guard officers. His death follows the killing of Salvador Bastidas, the mayor of Tacámbaro, also in Michoacán, who was murdered in June alongside his bodyguard.
The violence in Michoacán continues to be a pressing issue, with the recent killing of journalist Mauricio Cruz Solís in October 2024, shortly after he interviewed Manzo Rodríguez. These incidents underscore the challenges faced by public officials in regions plagued by organized crime and political violence.
