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Gunman kills mayor who wanted police to target Mexico’s drug gangs
02nd November, 2025 02:49 PM
A gunman in Mexico on Saturday killed a mayor who had repeatedly appealed to President Claudia Sheinbaum for more resources to fight drug traffickers in his state of Michoacán.
Carlos Manzo had been attending a candlelight ceremony in Uruapan on Saturday night before he was shot, according to a video shared on his official social media account.
He was attacked shortly after 8 p.m. and later died in the hospital from his injuries, said Michoacán Attorney General Carlos Torres Piña. Authorities have yet to establish the motive behind the shooting.
In several videos of the attack posted online, gunfire can be heard as panicked residents flee for cover. The state’s governor, Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla, confirmed Manzo’s death in a statement on social media, adding that police had killed the gunman and arrested two other suspects.
A Vocal critic
Manzo had been an outspoken critic of President Sheinbaum’s security policies, frequently demanding more federal support for local governments battling organised crime
. In recent months, he had posted videos saying he feared for his life. Known for personally joining local patrols while wearing a bulletproof vest, he had accused national authorities of ignoring the escalating violence in Michoacán.
Last year, a journalist was shot dead moments after interviewing Manzo in Uruapan, a case that underscored the deadly risks facing those who speak out against cartel influence.
Ongoing security crisis
Michoacán remains one of Mexico’s most dangerous regions, with rival cartels including the Jalisco New Generation Cartel battling for control of drug routes.
Earlier this year, Sheinbaum criticised Manzo after he urged police to use lethal force against criminals attacking civilians.
The state’s attorney general said police recovered a 9-millimetre handgun from the scene and were working to identify the main assailant.
“We strongly condemn the cowardly attack,” Governor Ramírez wrote, adding that the National Guard had been deployed to maintain order.
No group has claimed responsibility for the killing, which has reignited debate over Mexico’s struggle to protect public officials from cartel-linked violence.
