• Jorge Armando N. arrested for orchestrating the assassination of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo.
• Manzo was shot dead during a Day of the Dead celebration on November 1.
• His assassination has sparked protests and government commitment to combat crime.

Mexican authorities arrested a man identified as Jorge Armando N., accused of orchestrating the assassination of Carlos Manzo, the mayor of Uruapan. Manzo was fatally shot on November 1 during a public celebration of the Day of the Dead while advocating for stronger government action against crime. Omar García Harfuch, Mexico's Public Security Secretary, stated that Armando directed members of a criminal cell through encrypted messaging to surveil and ultimately attack the mayor, highlighting the increasing threat posed by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, which has been labeled a foreign terrorist organization by U.S. officials earlier this year, according to CBS News and Reuters.

The assassination of Carlos Manzo, a vocal critic of the federal government's responses to cartel violence, has provoked significant outcry across the nation. As Security Minister García Harfuch indicated, the investigation into cell phone communications of previously arrested suspects unveiled a coordinated plan for the attack. Mass protests erupted following Manzo's death, with citizens expressing their frustration toward the government’s inadequate responses to the threats posed by criminal gangs, according to BBC and Reuters.

Manzo had only recently taken office and had actively participated in public security initiatives, showing a willingness to confront organized crime directly. During his tenure, he publicly urged the federal government to enforce measures against cartels. His assassination, occurring in a densely populated area with his family present, underscores the perilous environment for local leaders in Michoacan, a state notorious for cartel-related violence. Local officials, such as Manzo, have often been targeted for their refusal to comply with cartel demands, according to BBC, CBS News, and Reuters.