In a shocking event on a highway in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, 34-year-old country music sensation Kevin Amalio Hernandez, his wife Marisela Sandoval, 34, and her two teenage children were killed in an attack involving a hail of bullets on Sunday, May 5.
Reports reveal that the bodies of Hernandez and Sandoval were discovered following the assault, which saw their pickup truck riddled with over 150 bullets. The body of Hernandez was found in the truck, a Chevrolet Malibu, which was significantly damaged by the gunfire. Sandoval’s body was found near the passenger door of a 1979 Ford truck.
Sandoval’s son, Ezequiel Ramirez Jr., 17, and daughter, Angela Ramirez, 14, succumbed to their wounds in the hospital the day after the attack. The couple’s shared younger child, a four-year-old, and the children’s maternal grandmother, who were also injured in the attack, were hospitalized. According to local media, the survivors are recuperating.
The assault occurred as the family was traveling through the region in a convoy of pickup trucks, which suddenly came under attack.
The tragic event occurred amid a series of violent incidents, including a shooting at Sandoval’s parents’ home and a thwarted attempt to break into the hospital where the injured family members were being treated. Authorities are presently investigating possible connections to organized crime, including potential involvement of the Sinaloa Cartel.
Juan Carlos Portillo, serving as the Attorney General for Chihuahua’s Southern District, mentioned that the inquiry is underway to determine if there’s a link between the assault and the horse racing enterprise managed by the spouse of the singer. After the 2015 homicide of her previous husband, Ezequiel Ramirez, Marisela Sandoval assumed control of the business.
In a poignant turn of events, Hernandez’s most recent song, “If God Takes Me with Him,” was released posthumously. The lyrics of the song now bear a haunting relevance to the incident: “If God takes me with him you should not feel afraid, I will be protecting you, I will follow your steps because this love is eternal.”
Hernandez, a native of El Paso, Texas, was renowned for his contributions to the Tejano (Tex-Mex style) country band H Nortena. He had been touring Chihuahua, delivering live performances that won him a wide fan base.
The Mexican music community has been expressing grief and remembrance for the fallen star. Band member, Luis Fernando Peinado, reflected on the transience of life and the significance of Hernandez’s last recording. In a statement he said: “Tomorrow this song will sound loud to the sky, the latest recording comes out tomorrow, life is fragile.”
Investigations are underway to uncover the circumstances surrounding the brutal assault, with the aim of shedding light on the motives and identities of those behind this act of violence.
