Ernesto Barajas dead at 38: Enigma Norteño star who praised drug lords in songs gunned down in Mexico
Controversial Mexican music star Ernesto Barajas – who glorified drug lords in his songs – was shot dead in a parking lot on Tuesday.
Barajas, 38, who was a singer in successful band Enigma Norteño, was gunned down in Zapopan in the Mexican state of Jalisco around 1pm local time, per El Universal.
Police said two men ‘burst into’ the parking lot by motorcycle and opened fire on Barajas.
Barajas and another man died instantly in the attack and a woman was injured in the leg.
It was reported that Barajas had received threats from organized crime in 2023 with the publication citing unofficial information indicating the shooting may have been a ‘settling of scores.’
The Jalisco State Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into the killing.
Controversial Mexican music star Ernesto Barajas – who glorified drug lords in his songs – was shot dead in a parking lot on Tuesday – pictured 2018
Barajas, 38, who was a singer in successful band Enigma Norteño, was gunned down in Zapopan in the Mexican state of Jalisco around 1pm local time, per El Universal – pictured center with his bandmates
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Enigma Norteño were famed for their ‘narcocorridos’ performances – referring to a a controversial folk-music genre accused of celebrating the exploits of Mexico’s drug traffickers.
Narcocorridos are often commissioned and paid for by individuals or groups involved in drug trafficking, including cartels and their members.
The group – which has more than four million monthly listeners – has always said its songs portray Mexican society, rather than glorifying violence.
Enigma Norteño has a track called Los Chapitos, in homage to the sons of Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán, the co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, who is serving a life sentence at a Colorado super max prison.
They are also known for songs El Chapo Guzman, El Mayito Gordo, Los Lujos del R, Quemándose un Gallito, El Chavo Félix and El Ondeado.
In July 2023, it was reported by El Financiero that Barajas had canceled his show in Rosarito, Baja California due to receiving an alleged threat from CJNG (Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación) on a ‘narcomanta’ (a cloth banner).
His management company Tanto Líder shared an emotional tribute to the star along with an image of him with angel wings.
‘Rest in peace, Ernesto Barajas. Your Tanto Líder family will always be proud of you and remember you as the great artist and human being you were,’ read the statement. ‘May God hold you in His holy love.’
Barajas is seen in his final Instagram post on August 14 – five days before his death
His management company Tanto Líder shared an emotional tribute to the star along with an image of him with angel wings
Police said two men ‘burst into’ the parking lot by motorcycle and opened fire on Barajas. Barajas and another man died instantly in the attack and a woman was injured in the leg – pictured 2018
Enigma Norteño were affected by a ban enacted in some Mexican states on narcocorridos public performances over fears the songs glorify crime and contribute to a culture of violence.
In a May interview on Telemundo, Barajas hit back at these assumptions, sayuing: ‘In my opinion, a song, a corrido, has nothing to do with what is happening in Mexico. About five or six years ago, there was also a wave of zero corridos.
‘We once played in Chihuahua, which is one of the strictest states. I remember we made a list and played only songs, literally, and we had to do what other colleagues are doing, which is just playing the accordion and stuff, and they (the audience) were the ones singing.’
His final Instagram post on August 14 , five days before his death, teased the band’s new song with singer and producer Edgardo Nuñez, Hello Kitty.
In a 2022 interview with The Independent Espanol, Barajas, who was born in Culiacán, Sinaloa, revealed he was paid $25,000 by drug lords per narcocorridos song.
He said: ‘It can be dangerous to release a corrido without authorization, since you could be revealing a lot of information about the character, and the authorities would be using those details as clues to arrest them.
In July 2023, it was reported by El Financiero that Barajas had canceled his show in Rosarito, Baja California due to receiving an alleged threat from a cartel – pictured 2018
‘The best thing is to speak the truth. Perhaps that’s why I’ve never had any problems. Ideally, as long as you behave respectfully and don’t offend other sides, you can compose the corrido, or you can’t, which obviously comes at a cost.
Enigma Norteño was founded by Barajas – who was also the band’s bassist and producer – in 2004 and they shot to fame in 2010 when they began recording narcocorridos.
