On Saturday, November 1, 2025, during the Festival de las Velas held in the main square of the municipality of Uruapan, Michoacán, the independent municipal president, Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez, was shot and later died in the hospital. According to reports, the attack took place in full view of festivalgoers.
His death underscores the alarming trend of violence against local officials in Mexico and raises serious questions about public-safety assurances for elected representatives.
Manzo Rodríguez, elected in September 2024 as mayor of Uruapan with an independent campaign, had gained prominence for publicly confronting organized-crime influence and urging the federal government for greater intervention in his municipality.
He had also accused state authorities of corruption and negligence. According to the federal security secretary, the assailant opened fire with a weapon linked to clashes between rival criminal groups. The attacker was killed on site, and two other suspects were arrested.
The assassination occurred despite Manzo’s having been placed under federal protection since December 2024, with additional security reinforcement in May 2025. Authorities said the perpetrators exploited the vulnerability of the public event to commit the crime.
The governor of Michoacán and the federal presidency condemned the attack and pledged that no impunity would be allowed.
They announced intensified security measures in the region and investigations into possible cartel involvement.
This killing took place in one of Mexico’s most violence-plagued states, where powerful criminal organizations fight for control of territory and resources, including the lucrative avocado industry — a point Manzo himself referenced in his public statements.
🚨 Carlos Manzo :
Porque fallecio el alcalde de Uruapan Carlos Manzo tras ataque directo.
🔫
El alcalde pidió ayuda a la federación todo el tiempo para luchar contra el crimen, pero nunca lo ayudó la #4T.
👍🏻
En México los buenos perecen y los malos prevalecen país de KGADA.
💩… pic.twitter.com/QdF7aWj9ES— Porque es tendencia en México (@XQestendenciaMX) November 2, 2025
This brazen assassination of Carlos Manzo is not only a personal and political tragedy for Uruapan but also a stark symbol of how violence has reached the core of democratic governance in Mexico.
When elected officials fear for their lives while serving in office, the very fabric of accountable public service is under siege.
Carlos Manzo murió haciendo lo que el gobierno prometió y nunca cumplió: enfrentar al crimen.
Hacer lo correcto en México, es una sentencia de muerte.
En la 4T, el narco gobierna y el gobierno narra.
pic.twitter.com/ShvkQSZlyL— Carlos González Baños (@GalgoGB) November 2, 2025
In response, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and former Ambassador to Mexico Christopher Landau offered his condolences.
In his post on the X platform, he also reiterated the U.S. government’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation on security matters. Through his personal account on the social network X, Landau wrote:
On this All Souls’ Day, my thoughts are with the family and friends of Carlos Manzo, mayor of Uruapan, Michoacán, Mexico, who was assassinated at a public Day of the Dead celebration last night. The US stands ready to deepen security cooperation with Mexico to wipe out organized… pic.twitter.com/hf8XObasHf
— Christopher Landau (@DeputySecState) November 2, 2025
The call now is for institutions to deliver on their promise: justice without exception, not just for this one case but as a standard in a society that must refuse impunity.
Manzo once stated, “I do not want to be just another executed mayor,” and his voice must not fade into silence.
About The Author
Mariana Ramirez Medina
Mariana Ramírez es una joven nacionalista mexicana comprometida con la verdad y la excelencia en el periodismo. Con una sólida vocación por informar, su propósito es acercar a los lectores a la realidad de los acontecimientos con claridad, honestidad y sin manipulaciones.
Se distingue por su transparencia y su dedicación a la búsqueda de hechos verificables, convencida de que el periodismo debe ser un pilar de confianza entre la sociedad y la verdad.
También aspira a destacar como una periodista reconocida por la profundidad de sus investigaciones, su compromiso con la integridad y el respeto con el que aborda cada historia.
Impulsada por la misión de fomentar una sociedad más informada, consciente y crítica, Mariana trabaja para que la verdad sea el eje central de su labor periodística, contribuyendo con responsabilidad y rigor al debate público.
