Mexico Band Members Found Dead | Gulf Cartel
- Reynosa, Mexico — The bodies of five members of the band El Fugitivo have been discovered in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, after they disappeared Sunday evening.
- Irving Barrios Mojica, the attorney general of Tamaulipas state, announced Thursday that nine arrests have been made in connection with the slayings.
- The band members,mostly in their 20s,vanished while traveling to a private event in Reynosa around 10 p.m.Sunday.
The Gulf cartel is blamed for the brutal killings of five el Fugitivo band members in Reynosa, Mexico, a region plagued by violence. Authorities have arrested nine individuals in connection with the musicians’ murders. The band,who vanished Sunday evening,were en route to a private engagement. Tamaulipas state, were Reynosa is located, is considered one of Mexico’s most dangerous areas, with the U.S. State Department issuing travel warnings due to rampant crime and kidnapping threats. For more on this tragedy, check out News Directory 3. The examination into the band’s demise continues as authorities seek to understand the motive behind the cartel’s actions and the full scope of this crime. Discover what’s next.
Mexican Band Members Killed; Gulf Cartel Blamed in Reynosa Slayings
Updated May 30, 2025
Reynosa, Mexico — The bodies of five members of the band El Fugitivo have been discovered in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, after they disappeared Sunday evening. the band,known for playing ranchera tunes and corridos,had posted photos on social media at the international bridge connecting Reynosa and McAllen,Texas,expressing their dreams of performing in the U.S.
Irving Barrios Mojica, the attorney general of Tamaulipas state, announced Thursday that nine arrests have been made in connection with the slayings. He attributed the crime to the Gulf cartel, which dominates the region. Though, Mojica did not disclose a motive or the manner in which the musicians were killed.
The band members,mostly in their 20s,vanished while traveling to a private event in Reynosa around 10 p.m.Sunday. Their disappearance sparked demonstrations by worried relatives and friends, who rallied at border bridges and other locations in Reynosa, demanding their safe return.
Tamaulipas, which borders Texas and the Gulf of Mexico, is notorious for its high rates of homicides and disappearances. The U.S. State Department advises against travel to Tamaulipas due to the high risk of crime and kidnapping. The agency notes that heavily armed criminal groups operate with impunity, notably along the border region.
Musicians in Mexico have often been targets of gang violence. In 2020, 10 members of Sensación Musical were killed in Guerrero state, a result of disputes between rival armed groups.
What’s next
The inquiry into the role of the Gulf cartel in the musician slayings continues, with forensic examinations ongoing at the site were the bodies were discovered. Authorities are working to determine the motive behind the kidnapping and murders in Reynosa.