A Mexican mayor who has been outspoken in his opposition to drug cartels and pushed for tough laws against human trafficking was killed in a shooting this weekend during Day of the Dead celebrations.
Before his death, Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo had criticized Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum for what he saw as a lack of effort in the fight against cartels. His city is located in the state of Michoacán, which suffers from a lot of cartel violence.
“We need more determination from the president of Mexico,” Manzo told local media in September, vowing “not to take any steps back.”
“I don’t want to be another mayor on the list of those who have been executed and had their lives taken away,” he continued. “I am very scared, but I have to face it with courage.”
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Carlos Manzo, the mayor of Uruapan and one of the few independent politicians elected in Mexico, attends a Day of the Dead candlelight festival in Uruapan, Michoacan state, Mexico, shortly before he was shot. This resulted in his death on November 1, 2025, in this screenshot taken from a live video streamed by his team and obtained via social media. (Carlos Manzo via Facebook/Handout via REUTERS)
State officials say Manzo was shot seven times during a Day of the Dead vigil on Saturday evening. He died of his injuries in a nearby hospital.
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Mexican Security Minister Omar García Harfuch announced an investigation into Manzo’s murder on Sunday.
Family and friends attend the funeral of Carlos Manzo, the mayor who was shot dead during a Day of the Dead event, in Uruapan, Mexico, November 2, 2025. (REUTERS/Ivan Arias)
“We extend our deepest condolences to his family, loved ones and the residents of Uruapan, who are experiencing a painful and unjust loss today at the hands of organized crime,” Harfuch said at a news conference. “There will be no impunity.”
Authorities said Manzo’s security was extensive and included officers handpicked by Manzo and 14 National Guard members.
A person holds a photo of Carlos Manzo, the mayor who was shot dead during a Day of the Dead event in Uruapan, Mexico, November 2, 2025. (REUTERS/Ivan Arias)
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Manzo’s aggressive approach to crime earned him the nickname “Mexican Bukele,” in reference to El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, who has led a major crackdown on gang violence in his country. According to the New York Times, Manzo has been critical of Sheinbaum’s approach to antitrust issues since her inauguration in October 2024.
“If she thinks she’s going to arrest these criminals without a single shot being fired and they just turn themselves in, then she needs to make it happen,” Manzo said in a speech in May, referring to Sheinbaum. “And believe me, if she manages to do that, I will immediately resign.”
