Zacatecas, Mexico – A shooting targeting the security detail of popular Mexican singer Pepe Aguilar occurred on Saturday evening near his ranch, El Soyate, located in the Villanueva municipality. The attack, carried out by a heavily armed group, resulted in the deaths of two police officers assigned to Aguilar’s protection and injuries to two others.
According to reports, the incident unfolded as Aguilar was preparing to depart El Soyate for the Calera International Airport, en route to Mexico City. The singer’s ranch, a sprawling 2,000-hectare property inherited from his late father, iconic ranchera singer Antonio Aguilar Barraza, features equestrian facilities and a charro arena. Aguilar was reportedly unharmed and safely returned to the ranch while the security team engaged the attackers.
The deceased officers have been identified as Alan Josimar “N,” the chief of Aguilar’s security detail and a member of the Zacatecas State Preventive Police, and his cousin, Fernando “N,” also a state police officer. A ministerial police agent and a civilian were also wounded in the attack, their conditions currently reported as stable.
The attack involved the use of high-caliber rifles and fragmentation grenades, suggesting the involvement of organized crime. Responding officers from the Immediate Reaction Force (FRIZ) of the State Preventive Police, along with elements of the Mexican Army and a Black Hawk helicopter from the Secretariat of Public Security, were dispatched to the scene after the initial assault. The security team activated the Matra alert system, prompting the rapid response from neighboring municipalities including Villanueva, Jerez, and Zacatecas.
The area surrounding Villanueva remains a hotspot for violence, contested by factions of the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). This ongoing conflict contributes to the region’s instability and poses a risk to individuals and businesses operating within it. The attack on Aguilar’s security detail underscores the escalating violence and the reach of criminal organizations in Zacatecas.
As of the time of reporting, neither the Attorney General’s Office of the State of Zacatecas nor the Secretariat of Public Security had issued an official statement regarding the incident. This lack of immediate comment is not uncommon in such situations, as investigations are typically prioritized before public announcements are made.
This incident echoes a pattern of violence targeting figures in the entertainment industry in Mexico. In 2006, Valentín Elizalde, another popular singer of regional Mexican music, was ambushed and killed in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, a border city across from McAllen, Texas. While the motives behind such attacks vary, they often involve extortion attempts, disputes over territory, or the targeting of individuals perceived as having the resources to pay protection money.
The Mexican drug war, which escalated significantly in 2006 when then-President Felipe Calderón deployed the military to combat cartel violence, continues to plague the country. Despite a change in administration and pledges to address the root causes of the conflict, homicides reached a record high in 2019 and have remained elevated. The ongoing struggle for control between rival cartels, coupled with corruption and impunity, contributes to the persistent violence.
The attack on Pepe Aguilar’s security detail highlights the risks faced by public figures in certain regions of Mexico and underscores the challenges facing authorities in maintaining security and combating organized crime. The incident is likely to fuel further debate about the effectiveness of current security strategies and the need for a more comprehensive approach to addressing the underlying causes of violence.
Pepe Aguilar, a Grammy and Latin Grammy Award-winning singer, is a prominent figure in the regional Mexican music scene. He has enjoyed a decades-long career, carrying on the legacy of his father and establishing himself as a successful performer and businessman. The incident raises concerns about the safety of Aguilar and his family, and may prompt him to reassess his security arrangements.
