Zayda Peña Arjona, 28, the lead singer in Mexican Grupero band, Zayda y los Culpables, was shot dead on December 1st 2007, in Alfredo Pumarejo hospital’s emergency room in the city of Matamoros, across the Rio Grande from Brownsville. Peña was known for her songs of unrequited love, most notably, Amore Ilegal.

Grupero music, a country style said to chronicle the lifestyle of borderland Northern Mexico and areas known for narcotics cartels, has seen its fair share of killings with 13 musicians killed in the last 2 years including K-paz de la Sierra singer, Sergio Gomez. (There is an online memorial to him here)

Peña was shot twice while emerging from a surgery after being shot once in the back the night before at the Mónaco Motel. The initial Friday night attack happened at a motel Peña was staying at with a friend. Both her friend and the motel manager were killed while she was rushed to emergency only to be killed shortly after. Police have strong reason to suspect that Peña’s death is connected to organized crime.

Authorities reported the discovery of an abandoned car that could have belonged to those responsible for the crime.  Peña was the daughter of Blanca Aidé Arjona, who works in the public prosecutor’s office. Admirers and colleagues held vigil for the singer in Matamoros.