The municipal president of Uruapan, Carlos Manzo Rodriguez, was assassinated on the night of Saturday, November 1st, during the traditional 'Festival of the Candles', a public celebration for the Day of the Dead in the municipality's historic center. His immediate security was provided by trusted Municipal Police officers, and the National Guard had assigned 14 elements to support them with peripheral security, at the request of the municipal president. Carlos Manzo won the mayoralty of Uruapan in the 2024 election as an independent candidate, having previously served as a federal deputy from 2021 to 2024 under the banner of the ruling party, MORENA. He launched his independent political campaign with the slogan 'the one with the Sombrero'. Throughout 2025, Carlos Manzo repeatedly called on President Claudia Sheinbaum for federal support to combat organized crime operating in Uruapan. The U.S. Under Secretary of State, Christopher Landau, expressed condolences to the family of Uruapan, Michoacán's municipal president, Carlos Manzo Rodriguez, and announced his country's willingness to intensify bilateral cooperation on security with Mexico. In a message posted on social media, he lamented the mayor's murder, which occurred during the traditional Festival of the Candles. 'On this Day of the Dead, my thoughts are with the family and friends of Carlos Manzo... The United States is ready to deepen cooperation on security with Mexico to eradicate organized crime,' Landau stated in his post, accompanied by an image of the mayor holding his son just before the attack. The official also emphasized his desire for 'rapid and effective actions' to be taken to clarify this crime. Harfuch: 14 elements of the National Guard were protecting Manzo. Manzo Rodriguez had federal and municipal protection since late 2024, which had been reinforced this May, SSPC Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch reported this Sunday. At a press conference, the head of the SSPC explained that the National Guard (GN) had assigned 14 elements for the mayor's peripheral security, along with two official vehicles, in coordination with trusted municipal police. 'Carlos Manzo had assigned protection since December 2024, and there was a reinforcement in May of this year. The mayor even announced rewards for municipal police who took down hitmen.'
