Singer DELAROSA Was Killed in 'Ambush' — and 3 People Are Now Charged with Murder: Police By KC Baker

Three men have been charged with murder in the death of singer DELAROSA, who was shot and killed over the weekend in what prosecutors called “an ambush-style attack.”

Shortly before 1:25 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22, Maria De La Rosa, 22, who is the known professionally as DELAROSA, was sitting in a parked car with two others in the Northridge section of Los Angeles when three men allegedly approached the vehicle, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement on Wed., Nov. 26.

The three men, identified as Francisco Otilio Gaytan, 27, Benny LiconGomez, 27, and Eduardo Lopez, 21, all of Northridge, allegedly demanded money before firing multiple rounds at the occupants, hitting all three, Hochman said.

De La Rosa sustained gunshot wounds and later succumbed to her injuries at a local hospital, the Los Angeles Police Department said in a press release. The two other victims sustained critical injuries. 

Gaytan was arrested later that day. LiconGomez was arrested on Sunday, Nov. 23. An arrest warrant has been issued for Lopez.

“This was a ruthless and targeted attack that stole the life of a young woman and artist and inflicted profound lifelong trauma on her family and the two survivors,” Hochman said in the statement.

The three men were each charged with one felony count of murder and two felony counts of attempted second-degree robbery.

The motive remains unclear.

In her final Instagram post on Oct. 30, De La Rosa gave her 40,000 followers a sneak peak at some new music.

“Ocupada cocinando en el Stu 🎶👩🏻‍🍳no me llames 🪄🪞🐩 Ya es tiempo… GAME TIME BABY,” she captioned the post in Spanish, which translates to “Busy cookin in the Stu. don’t call me. It’s about that time.”

De La Rosa released her final song, “No Me Llames,” in August.

Tributes have poured in for the beloved singer on social media. Colombian reggaeton artist Sharik wrote in Spanish, “Te amaré siempre” — “I will always love you,” NBC 4 Los Angeles reports.

Juan Moises, lead singer of Los Gemelos de Sinaloa, posted an emoji of three doves to commemorate her death.

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As De La Rosa’s family, friends and fans mourn her loss, the suspects remain held in jail as they await their upcoming arraignments.

Gaytan is scheduled to be arraigned on Jan. 7, 2026, in the San Fernando Valley Courthouse. His bail was set at $2,180,000. 

LiconGomez is scheduled to be arraigned on Wed., Nov. 26, in the same courthouse. He is being held on $2,280,000 bail

Lopez’s arraignment will be scheduled at a later date whenever he is apprehended, with bail set at $2,205,000. 

If convicted as charged, all defendants face life in state prison without the possibility of parole.

It is unclear whether the three have retained attorneys who can speak on their behalf.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Operations Valley Bureau Homicide, Detective Simonyan or Detective Lopez at (818) 374-9550.

Anonymous tips can be shared with the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).