Police in Los Angeles believe rising Latin music star DELAROSA was deliberately set up by her childhood friends before she was murdered in a brutal ambush-style shooting. The 22-year-old artist, whose real name was Maria De La Rosa, was found fatally shot in Northridge, in the San Fernando Valley, in the early hours of November 22.
The Fatal Night and Initial Investigation
According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the incident occurred around 1:30 am. De La Rosa was inside a car with two other individuals when gunfire erupted, striking all three occupants. Initially, authorities treated the case as a suspected robbery. The young singer and influencer was shot in the chest and rushed to hospital, where she later died. The two surviving victims were taken to hospital in critical condition.
However, the investigation took a dark turn. A search warrant affidavit obtained by the Los Angeles Times reveals detectives now suspect the artist was betrayed by people she knew. Francisco 'G Boy' Gayton was arrested the day after the killing. Detective Siranush Simonyan stated in the affidavit that Gayton had known De La Rosa since their teenage years.
A Planned Setup and Gang Links
Gayton told police that his friend, Benny 'Player' Gomez—another self-described childhood friend of the singer—had arranged to meet De La Rosa for what she believed was a drug purchase. The real plan, however, was to rob her. The affidavit states that Gayton, Gomez, and the two alleged gunmen are all members of the Bryant Street gang, based in Northridge.
Despite Gayton's claim of non-participation, phone records showed he sent a message reading 'go get ski mask' to one of the suspected shooters, Eduardo 'Active' Lopez, just five hours before the murder. On the night of the killing, Gomez said he was with De La Rosa after a club visit. They were talking outside Gayton's apartment building when two masked men approached and opened fire.
Contradictory Evidence and a Crucial Mistake
Gomez claimed he ducked and ran, later learning of the singer's death from her mother. He insisted he was not involved. Surveillance footage, however, painted a different picture. Detective Simonyan wrote that video from a nearby apartment showed Gomez speaking with Lopez and the other gunman moments before De La Rosa arrived. Gomez was seen shaking their hands, making a Bryant Street gang sign, and gesturing for them to go down an alley.
The affidavit details that as De La Rosa called Gomez, the two armed men emerged from an alley near her Cadillac Escalade. They pulled out a shotgun and a handgun, announced 'This is Bryan gang', and fired six shots. After the SUV sped away, Gomez was allegedly heard saying, 'Why'd you shoot them, fool?'
Following the shooting, Lopez and his accomplice hid the firearms in a van before getting into Gayton's BMW. In a critical error, Lopez dropped a court document bearing his name and case number inside the car, which became a major piece of evidence. Footage captured Gayton arguing with the shooters, telling them, 'Get out of here. You fools are dumb,' and appearing to reference the botched plan.
A text message from Gomez to Gayton sent roughly 13 hours after the murder read: 'We good they left to tj,' which detectives believe indicates the shooters fled to Tijuana, Mexico.
Charges and Devastated Community
Francisco Gayton and Benny Gomez have each been charged with one count of murder and two counts of aggravated second-degree robbery. They have not yet entered pleas. Charges have also been announced against Eduardo Lopez, though his custody status is unclear. The identity and whereabouts of the second alleged gunman remain unknown.
The tragedy has devastated De La Rosa's family and fans. Her mother and best friend, Deyanira De La Rosa, told NBCLA through tears, 'No words. She was my life.' The aspiring artist, who had over 40,000 Instagram followers and had released a new Spanish single 'No Me Llames' in August, was laid to rest at a public funeral at the San Fernando Mission Cemetery on December 2.
