Mexican authorities suspect that Carlos Manzo Rodriguez, the mayor of Uruapan who was killed in the city center last week, was slain by the Jalisco Cartel, according to a new report.
Citing sources familiar with the investigation, El País linked the killing with the capture of a local leader by police in August. The source said that Rene Belmonte, known as Rino, was a close subordinate of the Alvarez Ayala brothers, top leaders in the Jalisco Cartel. Violence spiked in the region following the arrest, including with attacks on local police officers.
The outlet also quoted a source saying that the gunman, a young man between 17 and 19 years old, was connected to the cartel. He was killed immediately after the shooting.
The Associated Press noted that Manzo Rodriguez had publicly appealed to Sheinbaum on social media to help him confront cartels and criminal organizations. He also accused Michacan's governor, who is close to the government, of corruption. He had been under protection since December 2024, three months after taking office.
The killing was captured on video and posted on social media. Images show residents and tourists, many of whom were wearing Day of the Dead costumes, running for cover after the gunshot rings.
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