Uruapan Mayor Killed at Día de los Muertos Festival—9th Sitting Mayor Slain in Sheinbaum’s First Year

By "El Huaso" for Borderland Beat

Carlos Manzo, mayor of Uruapan, Michoacán, was murdered at a public event on November 1st. His killing is the most recent in an accelerating trend of high level politicians being murdered by organized crime groups.

Carlos Manzo Rodríguez was shot on Saturday night while celebrating Dia de los Muertos in the main plaza of Uruapan. While he was taking photos with children, a gunman opened fire around 11 p.m., injuring Manzo and three others. The gunman was killed by police. Manzo later died at the hospital.

Video of the square shows hundreds of people celebrating, listening to music, and lighting candles, when six shots can be heard. People scramble, running for cover.

Video: Carlos Ángel Arrieta Twitter

As the mayor of the violent city of Uruapan, Manzo had gained attention and popularity for his open confrontation with criminal groups and criticism of the lack of government response. He had previously received threats from criminal groups, who told him they would kill him and his family.

The killer was identified as a youth named Osvaldo Gutiérrez Velázquez from Apatzingan. He was a relative of Omar Farías Chávez “El Prángana” or “El Fénix”, a known CJNG gunman operating in the state.

A fact sheet of the killer, who was not identified at the time.

Killing of Active Mayors is on the Rise

The assassination of active mayors in Mexico is hardly new, but the pace has sharply accelerated. Just one year into Claudia Sheinbaum’s presidency, nine sitting mayors have been murdered. If this rate persists over the remaining five years of her term, her sexenio could become the deadliest on record for local leaders, potentially doubling the previous high.

Active mayors killed over the past four sexenios
Claudia Sheinbaum - 9 mayors killed, with five years of the Sheinbaum Admin left.

Andrés Manuel López Obrador - 23

Enrique Peña Nieto - 30

Felipe Calderón - 31

Protest Reaction to the Killing

Following the killing, youths have been protesting in Apatzingan, setting fire to the Palacio de Gobierno. Some clashed with law enforcement, who deployed tear gas.

Image: Manuel Lopez San Martin Twitter

Sources: Proceso, Carlos Ángel Arrieta Twitter, Adn Noticias, Proceso, Mural, Manuel Lopez San Martin Twitter