Forensic Tests Confirm Teen Behind Mexican Mayor Carlos Manzo’s Murder

In a shocking revelation, authorities in Mexico have confirmed that a 17-year-old boy, identified as Victor Manuel Ubaldo, was responsible for the fatal shooting of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo during a public Day of the Dead event in the state of Michoacan on November 2.

According to official reports, forensic tests have verified that the teenager was the direct perpetrator of the attack. The findings came after Ubaldo was killed at the scene by security forces who responded to the assault. His family later identified his body on Wednesday.

Prosecutor Carlos Torres stated that detailed forensic analyses, including the sodium rhodizonate test, confirmed Ubaldo’s involvement in the murder of Mayor Carlos Manzo. “The tests conclusively proved that the teenager fired the weapon used in the assassination,” Torres said. He also revealed that the young suspect showed signs of methamphetamine use and had left his home a week prior to the attack.

Officials noted that additional individuals are believed to have been involved in orchestrating the shooting, which authorities suspect is tied to organized crime groups operating in the region. The state of Michoacan has long been plagued by gang violence and cartel-related killings targeting political leaders and public officials.

Experts warn that Mexico’s criminal organizations are increasingly recruiting minors, often from impoverished or unstable households, to carry out dangerous assignments, including assassinations. According to a government report on cartel recruitment, children as young as six are being drawn into the world of organized crime, often lured through social media platforms and online gaming communities.

Human rights advocates have voiced growing concern over the exploitation of vulnerable youth, estimating that nearly 200,000 minors across Mexico could be at risk of being recruited by criminal organizations.

The tragic killing of Mayor Carlos Manzo underscores the escalating threat of violence in regions dominated by drug cartels and highlights the disturbing trend of youth involvement in organized crime.