Axe Ceremonia festival official linked to process for manslaughter

A judge in Mexico City has linked María del Pilar Sánchez, the official responsible for Civil Protection during the Axe Ceremonia 2025 festival, to a criminal process for involuntary manslaughter. The ruling follows the death of photojournalist Miguel Ángel Rojas Hernández, who was killed when a decorative metal structure collapsed during the event at Parque Bicentenario in April 2025.

Sánchez will face the legal proceedings in freedom, subject to precautionary measures including periodic reporting to authorities and a prohibition on contacting the victims' indirect relatives. The court has established a three-month period for complementary investigations.

In addition to Sánchez, the Mexico City Prosecutor's Office has filed charges against seven other individuals and three companies related to the organization, production, and operation of the festival. These defendants have requested an extension of the constitutional term to prepare their defenses. A follow-up hearing is scheduled for Sunday, October 18, to determine their legal status.