Seven bodyguards have been arrested over their alleged involvement in the murder of a popular Mexican mayor, authorities reported.
Carlos Manzo, the mayor of Uruapan and an outspoken critic of cartel violence, was shot dead on November 1 at a public event marking the Day of the Dead.
The office of the attorney general of Michoacán state stated that the public servants were detained for their probable participation in the crime of aggravated homicide, in commission by omission in relation to Manzo's killing.
This arrest came after a suspected mastermind behind the murder was apprehended, who officials said had links to a powerful cartel.
The attorney general's office indicated that the seven guards were arrested by state and federal officials, including members of the National Guard, near the location where Manzo was killed.
During the Day of the Dead ceremony, which honors deceased family and friends, Manzo was shot seven times, causing chaos as onlookers fled for safety. His assassination prompted mass protests and raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of his security detail.
The alleged gunman was subsequently restrained by Manzo's bodyguards and shot during the incident.
Manzo had been a vocal advocate against the extortion tactics employed by criminal groups against avocado growers in the region and had sought increased action from the federal government against cartel violence.
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), which Mexico's security minister blamed for Manzo's murder, is notorious for drug trafficking and targeting public officials who resist its influence.
Additionally, officials have arrested a suspect known as Jorge Amando, believed to be the mastermind behind the assassination.
Although the CJNG is considered the most powerful criminal organization in Michoacán, multiple other groups operate in the area, frequently engaging in violent struggles for control over smuggling routes.
