Popular Mexican musician Ernesto Barajas, the founder and lead vocalist of the band Enigma Norteño, was reportedly fatally shot on Tuesday in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Reports of his death surfaced on social media, followed by several Mexican news outlets confirming the incident. Photographs of Barajas after the alleged shooting also circulated online.
Ernesto Barajas Shooting Incident Details
According to reports from Mexican media outlets, Barajas was killed in the Arenales Tapatíos neighborhood of Zapopan. He was reportedly accompanied by a woman when two assailants on a motorcycle opened fire, fatally shooting both.
Jaqueline Martinez, who manages the Los Angeles-based Instagram account that reports on Spanish-language entertainment, claimed the killing may have been linked to an attempt to “settle scores.”
Martinez further noted that Barajas had previously lived in Culiacán, a city known for its high level of gang activity. Several celebrities living there had allegedly received warnings from local gangs, leading many, including Barajas, to relocate to Guadalajara.
Who Was Ernesto Barajas?
Barajas gained recognition as a singer, musician, songwriter, and performer, best known as the lead vocalist, director, and producer of Enigma Norteño, a band he founded in 2004.
ya va llegando el pirata de Culiacán a recoger a Ernesto Barajas vocalista de Enigma Norteño pic.twitter.com/mCdVWqN5Ec
— Emi Montxnx 🦥 (@LaliTo0oO) August 19, 2025
The group rose to fame with popular singles such as “El Deportivo,” “Los lujos del R,” and “El Guero Bastidas.”
In addition to his music career, Barajas also hosted the podcast Puntos de Vista. One of his most notable episodes, an interview with Jesús Ortiz-Paz, has garnered over two million views on YouTube.
Barajas is survived by his wife, Alexis Sillas, and their two children – a son named Ernesto and a daughter named Alix Emilia.
#ULTIMAHORA reportan el asesinato del cantante del regional mexicano Ernesto Barajas, vocalista y líder del grupo Enigma Norteño en la ciudad de Guadalajara Jalisco. pic.twitter.com/jeffEycI2F
— Fuentes de inteligencia (@fuentesdeinteli) August 19, 2025
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
