The mayor was gunned down at a Mexico Day of the Dead event

A municipal leader in the Mexican state of Michoacán died after being shot multiple times during Day of the Dead celebrations, authorities reported. Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez, who served as mayor of Uruapan, succumbed to his injuries at a medical facility following the Saturday evening assault in the city center. An attacker fired seven rounds at the official while crowds gathered for the holiday observance, federal security secretary Omar García Harfuch said. A council member and one security officer sustained injuries during the incident.

Hundreds of residents dressed in mourning attire marched through Uruapan streets on Sunday, carrying images of their slain leader and demanding accountability. Demonstrators called for the ouster of the Morena party, which governs under President Claudia Sheinbaum. The mayor had recently used social platforms to request federal intervention against organized crime operations and accused the state governor of misconduct. Video recordings captured the moment gunfire erupted among festival attendees.

Manzo Rodríguez had received enhanced protection since December 2024 and gained a nickname referencing El Salvador's leader due to his security approach. Michoacán faces ongoing territorial disputes among criminal organizations. Another municipal leader from the same state, Salvador Bastidas, died in June under similar circumstances.