Ernesto Barajas, the 38-year-old lead singer and co-founder of the Mexican regional music band Enigma Norteño, was fatally shot on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, in a parking lot in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico. The attack occurred around 1:00 p.m. local time at a lot in the Arenales Tapatíos neighborhood, according to the Jalisco Attorney General’s Office.
Two men riding a motorcycle opened fire on Barajas and his companions in what authorities are treating as an organized crime operation. The shooting resulted in the death of Barajas and another man under 25 years old, while an 18-year-old woman was injured with a gunshot to the leg. The attackers fled the scene on their motorcycle and remain at large.
Barajas’ management company, Talento Líder, confirmed his death to Billboard Español. In a statement posted on Instagram Stories, the company wrote: “Rest in peace, Ernesto Barajas. Your Talento Líder family will always be proud of you and remember you as the great artist and human being that you were.”
Born on September 16, 1986, in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Barajas founded Enigma Norteño in 2004 alongside Humberto Pérez when he was just 18 years old. The band gained prominence in the narcocorrido genre, a controversial subgenre of regional Mexican music that often portrays drug cartel figures and their activities. The group has more than four million monthly listeners on Spotify.
The band’s repertoire includes songs dedicated to prominent figures from organized crime, particularly those associated with the Sinaloa Cartel. Notable tracks include “El Chapo Guzmán,” which references the infamous former Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquín Guzmán, and “Los Chapitos,” named after Guzmán’s sons. Other popular songs include “Mayito Gordo,” “Los Lujos del R,” “Chavo Félix,” and “El Ondeado.”
Barajas had received numerous threats from organized crime groups in recent years. In July 2023, he canceled a scheduled performance in Rosarito, Baja California, after receiving an alleged threat from the Jalisco New Generation Cartel displayed on a narcomanta, a cloth banner commonly used by cartels to communicate threats. The message criticized his alleged relationship with Alfonso “El Aquiles” and René “La Rana” Arzate García, identified as operators of the Sinaloa Cartel.
Reports suggest that Barajas had moved from his native Culiacán to Guadalajara due to safety concerns. Mexican media indicated that the shooting may have been a settling of scores related to territorial disputes between rival cartels.
In previous interviews, Barajas discussed the business aspect of narcocorridos, revealing that he charged substantial fees for custom songs. In a 2022 interview with The Independent Español, he disclosed charging $25,000 per narcocorrido, though he later indicated in a conversation with Univision that his fee had increased to $60,000. He explained that songs were typically commissioned through intermediaries and required approval before recording and distribution.
Barajas defended his artistic choices, arguing that his songs portrayed Mexican society rather than glorifying violence. He maintained that proper authorization was crucial when creating corridos about specific individuals to avoid revealing information that could be used by authorities. The musician emphasized the importance of speaking truthfully and behaving respectfully to avoid conflicts with different criminal factions.
Due to the controversial nature of their lyrics, Enigma Norteño faced restrictions in several Mexican states that banned narcocorrido performances at public events. The band was also affected by the Trump administration’s recent crackdown on artists in the genre, with authorities revoking visas for numerous performers accused of glorifying criminal violence.
The band released their most recent album, “Atención Al Cliente,” in November 2024. Only five days before his passing on August 14, Barajas joined forces with fellow Sinaloa artist Edgardo Nuñez to release the track “Hello Kitty.” His last post on Instagram was dedicated to promoting this release.
Beyond his musical career, Barajas hosted a podcast called “Puntos de Vista con Ernesto Barajas,” which featured guests from the regional Mexican music scene, including members of Grupo Firme, Fuerza Regida, and other prominent artists. The last episode was published on his YouTube channel on August 13.
Barajas is survived by his wife, Alexis Sillas, and their two children. The Jalisco State Prosecutor’s Office has begun an investigation into the murder, though no suspects have been detained. This incident follows a pattern of violence against narcocorrido performers, including the murder of five members of the group Fugitivo in Tamaulipas state in May 2025.