Ernesto Barajas, the founder and lead vocalist of the regional Mexican group Enigma Norteño, was shot and killed on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 19, in Zapopan, Jalisco. The attack, which authorities are treating as a direct assault, also resulted in the death of another man and left a woman injured.
The incident occurred at a vehicle storage facility in the Arenales Tapatíos neighborhood, near the border with Guadalajara. According to initial police reports, Barajas, 38, was with his companions and about to board a car when two armed individuals on a motorcycle arrived at the scene. The assailants approached on foot and opened fire without warning before fleeing. Witnesses reported at least fifteen shots were fired.
Paramedics who responded to the emergency call confirmed the deaths of Barajas and another man, estimated to be between 20 and 25 years old, at the scene. A woman, reported to be around 27 years old, sustained a gunshot wound to the knee and was transported to a nearby hospital. Her condition is described as stable. The Jalisco Prosecutor’s Office has cordoned off the area and initiated an investigation into the double homicide.
Born in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Ernesto Barajas was a prominent and controversial figure in the world of regional Mexican music. He founded Enigma Norteño in 2004, serving not only as its vocalist but also as a bassist, producer, and the primary creative force behind the group. The band gained significant popularity in both Mexico and the United States, particularly for its corridos, a genre that often narrates tales of drug traffickers and their exploits.
Enigma Norteño’s discography includes well-known songs such as “Mayito Gordo,” “Los lujos del R,” “Chavo Félix,” and “El Ondeado,” which have amassed millions of views on digital platforms. While these narcocorridos brought him fame, they also placed Barajas under scrutiny and made him a target.
The assassination is not the first time Barajas’s name has been linked to organized crime threats. In July 2023, Enigma Norteño was forced to cancel a performance at the Rosarito Fair in Baja California after a “narcomanta” (a banner with a message from a cartel) was displayed publicly. The message, attributed to the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), explicitly warned Barajas not to perform, accusing him of being protected by alleged members of the rival Sinaloa Cartel. The banner referenced Alfonso “El Aquiles” Arzate García and René “La Rana” Arzate García, purported leaders within the Sinaloa organization.
In past interviews, Barajas acknowledged that he composed corridos on commission, sometimes for significant sums of money, but consistently denied having any personal or operational ties to criminal organizations. He defended his music as an artistic expression that reflected social realities. Some reports suggest that following the threats in Culiacán, Barajas had relocated with his family to Guadalajara for safety.
Beyond his musical career, Barajas was an active entrepreneur and media personality. He created the popular podcast “Puntos de Vista,” where he interviewed fellow artists from the regional Mexican scene, including Eduin Caz and Gabito Ballesteros, offering fans a closer look at the genre. He also maintained a close relationship with his followers through social media, sharing aspects of his personal life, family, and travels. His death marks another violent episode in the regional Mexican music industry, which has seen numerous artists targeted and killed over the years.
