Mexican officials say they have arrested a man accused of helping plan and order the killing of a widely respected mayor in Michoacan, marking the first major break in a case that has shaken the region.
According to The Associated Press, during a Wednesday news conference, Public Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch said investigators identified the suspect after examining messages recovered from the cellphones of two men found dead days after the assassination of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo. According to García Harfuch, the suspect led a criminal cell tied to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
Michoacan state prosecutor Carlos Torres Piña confirmed that the man — identified only as Jorge Armando N. under Mexico’s privacy rules — was arrested Tuesday afternoon. Authorities have not released additional personal details, citing the ongoing investigation.
Manzo was fatally shot on the night of Nov. 1 while attending Day of the Dead festivities. The attack unfolded in front of dozens of residents gathered for the celebration. The teenage gunman responsible for the shooting was killed shortly after the incident.
García Harfuch said the newly arrested suspect is believed to be one of the leaders within a criminal organization operating in the region.
He added that two men who allegedly had contact with the teenage shooter before the attack were found dead along a highway on Nov. 10. Their cellphones were recovered the following day.
Analysis of those devices revealed messages outlining details of the planning behind the mayor’s assassination, ultimately leading investigators to the suspect, García Harfuch said.
Manzo’s killing intensified public pressure on President Claudia Sheinbaum to shift her security strategy amid persistent violence in Michoacan.
In response, Sheinbaum announced a new initiative known as Plan Michoacan.
The plan focuses largely on increased social spending but also calls for the deployment of 10,000 troops across the state in an effort to regain control from competing criminal groups.
The investigation into the killing remains active as authorities search for additional suspects and determine the full scope of the plot.
