A Mexican mayor known for his outspoken stance against drug cartels and his push for tougher anti-trafficking laws was shot and killed during a Day of the Dead celebration over the weekend.
Carlos Manzo, the mayor of Uruapan in Michoacán State, was gunned down Saturday night during a public vigil, according to state officials.
Authorities said Manzo was struck seven times.
He later died from his injuries at a nearby hospital.
Before his death, Manzo had repeatedly warned that local officials were being targeted by cartels.
He had criticized Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum for failing to take stronger action against organized crime.
In September, Manzo told local media:
“We need greater determination from the president of Mexico.”
He vowed not to take “a single step back.”
“I do not want to be just another mayor on the list of those who have been executed and had their lives taken away from them,” he continued.
“I am very afraid, but I must face it with courage.”
“There Will Be No Impunity”
Mexican Security Minister Omar García Harfuch announced a federal investigation into the assassination on Sunday.
“We send our deepest condolences to his family, loved ones, and the residents of Uruapan, who today are experiencing a painful and unjust loss at the hands of organized crime,” Harfuch said at a press conference.
“There will be no impunity.”
Officials confirmed that Manzo’s personal security detail included multiple local officers and 14 National Guard members.
Targeted for Hardline Policies
Manzo had earned the nickname “the Mexican Bukele.”
The moniker is a reference to El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, who is known for his sweeping crackdown on gang violence.
According to The New York Times, Manzo frequently clashed with Sheinbaum’s administration over cartel enforcement, accusing the president of being too lenient on criminal networks.
“If she thinks she’s going to detain these criminals without a single shot fired and that they’ll just turn themselves in, well, she should get it done,” Manzo said in a May speech.
“And believe me, if she manages to do that, I will immediately submit my resignation.”
Manzo’s killing marks yet another act of cartel-linked political violence in Mexico.
In the nation, more than 20 local officials have been assassinated this year alone, according to recent government data.
READ MORE – DHS: Mexican Cartels Are Placing Bounties on U.S Federal Agents
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