Musician killed during concert in Mexico
Associated Press
Article Launched: 03/20/2008 06:32:38 AM MDT


ACAPULCO, Mexico - Gunmen opened fire on a band playing at a dance in the southern state of Guerrero, killing the singer and wounding three band members, in the latest in a series of killings of Mexican musicians, authorities said Wednesday.
The assailants opened fire as the band played Tuesday night in the town of Quechultenango, and then fled.

Nicolas Villanueva, 38, lead vocalist for the tropical musical group Brisas del Mar, died from more than 20 bullet wounds, the Guerrero state Public Safety Department said. Fellow band members Gaudencio Contreras, 21, Jose Santos Galeana, 17, and Alberto Nava Venegas, 13, were wounded.

There was no immediate information on a possible motive for the attack.

A string of Mexican musicians have been killed in recent years, with motives in most cases unclear. Some speculate that gunmen may target singers they don't like, or who have sung songs about the drug trade, or who have become involved personally or on a business level with traffickers.

Singer Jesus Rey David Alfaro Pulido, 26, known as "El Gallito," was found strangled and shot in Tijuana in February. Sergio Gomez, lead performer for the top-selling group K-Paz de la Sierra, was murdered in December. Singer Valentin Elizalde was killed in 2006.

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