URUAPAN, Mexico (AP) – Uruapan Mayor Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez was fatally shot during Day of the Dead celebrations Sunday, November 2, 2025, authorities confirmed. The killing of the newly elected mayor underscores the escalating violence targeting political figures in the mexican state of Michoacán.
Manzo Rodríguez,who assumed office after winning midterm elections as an autonomous candidate,was sometimes referred to as “The Mexican Bukele” due to his advocacy for strong security measures,mirroring those of El SalvadorS President Nayib Bukele.His death adds to a growing list of attacks on local leaders in Michoacán, a region plagued by cartel activity. The assassination raises concerns about the safety of elected officials and the potential for further instability as the state grapples with organized crime.
The mayor was killed while participating in Day of the Dead festivities, a traditionally vibrant and culturally important holiday in Mexico. A photograph taken by Associated Press photographer Eduardo verdugo shows Manzo Rodríguez’s hat resting on his horse at his funeral.
This incident follows the June killing of Salvador Bastidas, mayor of Tacambaro, Michoacán, who was murdered alongside his bodyguard upon arriving home.In october 2024, journalist Mauricio Cruz Solís was also shot in Uruapan shortly after interviewing Manzo Rodríguez.