3 charged with murder in ambush-style shooting of 22-year-old Latin singer in Northridge, DA says

NORTHRIDGE, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Three men have been charged with murder in connection with the shooting of 22-year-old Maria De La Rosa, an aspiring Latin singer who was killed in an ambush-style attack in Northridge, prosecutors confirmed Wednesday.

The shooting occurred shortly before 1:25 a.m. Saturday near Bryant Street and Tampa Avenue, where the suspects allegedly approached a parked car, demanded money from the three people inside and then opened fire, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. All three people inside the car were wounded.

"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," L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement. "My Office will pursue this case aggressively to ensure those responsible are held fully accountable for this senseless and deadly violence."

De La Rosa, known professionally as DELAROSA, was fatally struck by gunfire. The two other victims sustained critical injuries.

De La Rosa was transported to a hospital where she was later pronounced dead. De La Rosa was in the passenger seat at the time of the shooting.

Francisco Otilio Gaytan and Benny LiconGomez, both 27, and Eduardo Lopez, 21, all of Northridge, were charged Tuesday with murder and two counts of attempted second-degree robbery stemming from the shooting.

Gaytan was arrested Saturday and was being held in lieu of $2.18 million bail. LiconGomez, who was arrested Sunday, was being held on $2.28 million bail. Lopez remained at large.

A woman who was shot and killed in an ambush-style murder in Northridge was a 22-year-old aspiring singer.

LiconGomez was scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday at the San Fernando Courthouse, but the hearing was postponed until Jan. 7, the same day Gaytan is set for arraignment.

Deyanira De La Rosa, the victim's mother, told Eyewitness News she is seeking answers over her daughter's death. The family says the world has been robbed - not only of a kind, beautiful human - but of a rising musical star as well.

"She was so young... They stole her life," the mother said.

City News Service contributed to this report.