Mexican Singer Slain In Hospital While Recovering From Gunshot Wounds

MEXICO CITY – A Mexican singer was shot to death in her hospital bed, police said Monday, the fourth time in a year assailants have killed performers of a popular northern music whose lyrics often focus on drug trafficking and violence.

Zayda Pena, 28, was shot in the heart Saturday in the city of Matamoros, across the border from Brownsville, Texas, while recovering from a gunshot wound to the neck received on Friday, police detective Abel Infante said.

No suspects had been identified. Two people with Pena were killed in the Friday shooting.

Pena headed a band known as Zayda y los Culpables – “Zayda and the Guilty Ones.” One of her songs was “Tiro de Gracia,” a reference to an execution-style gunshot.

Several other “gruperos” – performers of an accordion-based music from northern Mexico – have been slain in recent months.

On Nov. 25, 2006, Valentin Elizalde was shot to death along with his manager and driver shortly after performing across the border from McAllen, Texas. Police are investigating a possible link between Elizalde’s killing and a grisly video posted online that was set to one of his songs, “To My Enemies.”

Last December, Javier Morales Gomez of the band Los Implacables del Norte was shot to death in a park in Michoacan, a western state plagued by drug-related gunbattles, killings and beheadings. Police have not spoken of a motive in that case.

In February, gunmen shot to death four members of the musical group Banda Fugaz after they performed in Michoacan.

Many gruperos write songs called “narco corridos,” which focus on the exploits of drug traffickers. Pena’s songs were mostly romantic ballads, however.