Erick Del Campo, a North Texas DJ who performed under the name DJ Avenger, died on June 7, 2026, from injuries sustained in a car crash on U.S. Highway 80 in Mesquite, Texas — just hours after he performed his first Major League Baseball game at Globe Life Field in Arlington. He was 44.
Del Campo had spent the evening of June 6 behind the decks at Globe Life Field, spinning for the Texas Rangers and Cleveland Guardians matchup. Mesquite Police were notified of the collision on U.S. Highway 80 at 2:29 a.m. on June 7 as Del Campo was heading home following the performance. Both drivers were transported to Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas for treatment, where Del Campo later died from his injuries.
The Mesquite Police Department is investigating the cause of the crash. The condition of the other driver has not been made public, and no additional details have been released.
A Lifelong Dream Realized
According to his loved ones, performing for his home team was a lifelong dream and a milestone he had been working toward for years. The Mesquite resident had already built a sturdy reputation across North Texas, performing regularly at Texas Live! in Arlington and working games at the American Airlines Center. But the Friday night performance at Globe Life Field was different — it was the biggest gig of his career, a moment his family says he had been chasing his entire adult life.
Music in His Blood
His younger brother, Mike Del Campo, said Erick’s dedication to music started when they were kids sharing a house and a bedtime routine.
“I would be asleep, getting ready for school the next day, and he’d be up having his headphones on and I’d hear the music,” Mike recalled.
That dedication carried him from late-night practice sessions to some of the biggest stages in the region — and finally, to a Major League ballpark. For Del Campo’s family, the timing has made the loss especially difficult to absorb. The crash came just hours after one of the proudest moments of his career — a juxtaposition his brother is still struggling to process.
“I’m like in shock just like everybody else,” Mike said, according to reports. “Erick, just know I love you, man.”
A Family Man First
Del Campo is survived by his wife, his daughter, and his younger brother. Friends across the North Texas entertainment scene described him as someone whose impact reached well beyond the booth — a husband, father, brother, and friend who put others first.
Those who worked alongside him often pointed to his generosity. “He was the epitome of that guy that would give you the shirt off his back,” one friend said. Others recalled his faith and family-first approach, qualities they say defined both his personal life and his career. Mike Del Campo described his brother as a God-fearing man who poured that same conviction into everything he touched, which is part of why he connected with audiences and venue staff so easily. Friends say he was electric on stage and funny off it — the kind of presence that made a room feel warmer the second he walked in.
A Painful Weekend for Texas Baseball
Del Campo’s death was the start of what turned out to be a painful weekend for the Texas baseball community. One day later, on June 8, a private jet crashed in the Dominican Republic. The aircraft had been flying to Austin, Texas, to pick up former MLB star Yadier Molina and his family. Molina and his family were safely waiting in Texas at the time, but the crash added another layer of sorrow to an already difficult stretch of days.
Back in North Texas, friends have launched a GoFundMe to support Del Campo’s wife and daughter as they navigate the road ahead. Those closest to him said the fundraiser is about more than finances — it’s about making sure the family he adored is wrapped in the same kind of care he showed others throughout his life.
For many in the music community, DJ Avenger’s legacy won’t be measured by the venues he played or the crowds he entertained. It will be measured in how he treated people — the warmth he brought to every booking, the loyalty he showed his friends, and the love he poured into his family. He reached his biggest career goal on a Friday night in Arlington, and he’ll be remembered for both the music and the kindness that came with it.
