The Mexican music world is in mourning following reports that Ernesto Barajas, the founder and lead singer of the regional Mexican band Enigma Norteño, was fatally shot in Guadalajara, Jalisco, on Tuesday. The news, which has circulated widely on social media and been reported by several news outlets, suggests the 38-year-old artist was killed in a targeted attack.
According to preliminary reports, Barajas and a companion were at a car repair shop when they were attacked by two armed assailants on a motorcycle. The attack reportedly left both men dead, and a third person, a woman, was injured. While local authorities have opened an investigation, an official cause of death has not yet been confirmed, and there have been no arrests.
The incident comes after Enigma Norteño reportedly received threats in 2023 from a cartel, which led them to cancel a performance. According to social media reports, Barajas had moved from Culiacán to Guadalajara, a move reportedly made by several other musicians from the area after receiving threats. Just hours before the news of his death, Barajas had been promoting his band’s newest single.
Enigma Norteño was founded in Culiacán, Sinaloa, in 2004 and is known for its regional Mexican music, including corridos. The band has collaborated with a number of well-known artists in the genre.
