Three men have been formally charged with murder following the fatal shooting of Maria De La Rosa, a 22-year-old Latin music artist known professionally as DELAROSA, in what authorities describe as a ruthless and targeted attack.
Charges Filed in Tragic Shooting
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced the charges on Wednesday, revealing that Francisco Otilio Gaytan, 27, Benny LiconGomez, 27, and Eduardo Lopez, 21 all face one felony count of murder and two felony counts of attempted second-degree robbery.
"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 stated during the announcement. "My Office will pursue this case aggressively to ensure those responsible are held fully accountable for this senseless and deadly violence."
Details of the Northridge Attack
The tragic incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning when the three suspects allegedly approached a parked vehicle on Bryant Street near Tampa Avenue in Northridge. According to police reports, the men demanded money before opening fire, striking all three occupants inside the vehicle.
DELAROSA suffered fatal gunshot wounds and was rushed to a nearby hospital by a private party, but medical staff were unable to save her life. The two other victims survived the shooting but remained in critical condition over the weekend.
Witnesses described seeing two male suspects approach the parked vehicle before multiple rounds were fired at the victims. The attack unfolded in an otherwise calm block of the Northridge neighbourhood, shocking local residents.
Legal Proceedings and Potential Sentences
The three defendants, all from the Northridge area, now face significant legal consequences. If convicted as charged, each defendant faces life in state prison without the possibility of parole.
The legal proceedings have been scheduled as follows:
- Francisco Otilio Gaytan's arraignment is set for January 7, 2026, with bail set at $2,180,000
- Benny LiconGomez will be arraigned on November 26, 2025, with bail at $2,280,000
- Eduardo Lopez's arraignment will be scheduled later, with bail set at $2,205,000 and an arrest warrant issued
Gaytan was arrested the same day as the shooting, while LiconGomez was taken into custody the following day. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorneys Jennifer Jimenez and Celeste Sanchez, with the Los Angeles Police Department continuing their investigation.
Rising Career Cut Short
The tragedy has cut short the promising career of DELAROSA, who had been making waves in the Latin music scene. With just over 40,000 followers on Instagram, the young artist had recently released her single "No Me Llames" in August, showing significant potential in her musical career.
Authorities have emphasised that the charges filed in this case are currently allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
