Mayor Carlos Manzo, aged 40, from Uruapan, a city located approximately 251 miles west of Mexico City, was tragically gunned down by two armed assailants during the Day of the Dead festivities in the city’s central square. Known for his outspoken stance against the violent drug cartels plaguing Mexico, Manzo had made bold statements advocating for using force to combat the criminal organizations in the region.
Despite being surrounded by national guard troops during the event, Manzo fell victim to what security consultant David Saucedo described as a “kamikaze attack,” indicating the attackers were prepared to face fatal consequences. Saucedo remarked that while Manzo displayed courage, his approach was deemed reckless given the lack of necessary resources to effectively confront the cartels.
Following the assassination, President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed strong condemnation, denouncing the brutal killing of Mayor Manzo and extending her deepest sympathies to his family and the people of Uruapan. The tragic incident also drew attention from US officials, with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau offering condolences via Twitter.
A prompt funeral service was conducted for Mayor Manzo within 24 hours of his untimely death, in accordance with customary practices observed in several countries across Latin America and southern Europe, such as Spain.