Three men have been charged with murder following the fatal shooting of rising Latin singer Delarosa, aged 22.
As The Independent reports, the musician (full name Maria de la Rosa) was shot in an ambush-style attack in Northridge, Los Angeles, in the early hours of last Saturday (November 22).
De la Rosa was sitting in a parked car with two other individuals at around 1:25am, when the suspects approached the vehicle and opened fire.
All three occupants were struck by gunfire, per NBC Los Angeles. De la Rosa was later pronounced dead at a hospital, with the two other occupants suffering critical injuries.
Francisco Otilio Gaytan, 27, Benny LiconGomez, 27, and Eduardo Lopez, 21, all from Northridge, were charged with one felony count of murder, and two felony counts of attempted second-degree robbery.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Lopez, who remains a fugitive. All three suspects face a maximum penalty of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Gaytan, LiconGomez and Lopez approached the parked car on Bryant Street near Tampa Avenue, demanded money and opened fire, according to prosecutors.
The LAPD said the victims were in the area to meet friends when they were targeted in a robbery attempt, which is believed to be gang-related.
“This was a ruthless and targeted attack that stole the life of a young woman and artist and inflicted profound lifelong trauma on her family and the two survivors,” said Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman in a statement.
“My Office will pursue this case aggressively to ensure those responsible are held fully accountable for this senseless and deadly violence.”
The suspects were identified by LAPD investigators, the FBI Fugitive Task Force, Devonshire Area Gang Enforcement Detail, Mission Area Gang Enforcement Detail, and Valley Bureau Section homicide detectives.
The late singer released a Spanish-language single in August, titled ‘No Me Llames’, which translates to ‘Don’t Call Me’ in English. Her official Instagram account has over 45,000 followers. Fans have been paying tribute by writing messages on her most recent posts.
