skip to contentAdvertisementCarlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez, the mayor of Uruapan, was gunned down in the city’s historic centre and later died in hospital, state prosecutor Carlos Torres Piña confirmed.By: Express Web Desk November 3, 2025 06:51 AM IST First published on: Nov 3, 2025 at 06:51 AM IST ShareWhatsapptwitterFacebookA hat worn by late Mayor Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez, who was shot during the Day of the dead celebrations, sits on his horse at his funeral in Uruapan, Michoacan state, Mexico. (AP Photo)The mayor of Uruapan, a city in Mexico’s western state of Michoacan, was fatally shot during Day of the Dead festivities on Saturday night, authorities said according to AP. The attack occurred in a public plaza in front of dozens of residents and tourists gathered for the celebrations.Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez, the mayor of Uruapan, was gunned down in the city’s historic centre and later died in hospital, state prosecutor Carlos Torres Piña confirmed. A city council member and a bodyguard were also injured in the attack.Federal Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch said the attacker, who opened fire on the mayor seven times, was killed at the scene. The weapon used was linked to two previous armed clashes between rival criminal groups operating in the region, he said, reported AP. “No line of investigation is being ruled out to clarify this cowardly act that took the life of the mayor.”Violence tied to cartel activityMichoacan is among Mexico’s most violent states, with powerful cartels and organised crime groups battling for control over drug trafficking routes and extortion rackets. Local officials are frequently targeted in attacks tied to political and criminal rivalries.Manzo Rodríguez, a former legislator from the ruling Morena party who later ran as an independent, had often spoken publicly about the threats he faced. He had accused Michoacan’s pro-government governor, Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla, and state police of corruption, and repeatedly appealed to President Claudia Sheinbaum for federal assistance.On Sunday, hundreds of residents dressed in black joined a funeral procession for the slain mayor. Many carried photographs of Manzo Rodríguez and chanted “Justice! Justice! Out with Morena!” At the front of the procession, a black horse with one of the mayor’s trademark hats draped over its saddle led the crowd, followed by a mariachi band playing sombre tunes. Police and military officers stood guard as the march wound through Uruapan’s narrow streets, known for avocado farming.The shooting was captured on video and shared widely on social media. Footage shows people enjoying the Day of the Dead celebrations surrounded by candles, marigold flowers, and skull decorations when gunfire erupts. Panic ensues as attendees flee for cover.In another video, an official is seen performing CPR on a person lying on the ground while armed police officers secure the area.Most ReadPrevious threats and similar attacksAccording to García Harfuch, the mayor had been under official protection since December 2024, three months after taking office, with additional National Guard personnel assigned to him earlier this year.Nicknamed “The Mexican Bukele” for his tough-on-crime rhetoric inspired by El Salvador’s president Nayib Bukele, Manzo Rodríguez had positioned himself as a vocal critic of cartel influence in local governance.His killing follows the June murder of Salvador Bastidas, mayor of Tacámbaro, also in Michoacan, and the October 2024 shooting of journalist Mauricio Cruz Solís in Uruapan shortly after interviewing Manzo Rodríguez.(With inputs from agencies)AdvertisementAdvertisementLoading Taboola...