Two of the three people charged in the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Maria De La Rosa, a rising Latin singer known professionally as DELAROSA, may have set up the artist, according to a search warrant reviewed by the Los Angeles Times.
The Nov. 22 shooting happened just before 1:30 a.m. on Bryant Street east of Tampa Avenue in Northridge.
“Witnesses described seeing two male suspects approach a vehicle that was parked on Bryant Street,” LAPD officials said in a Nov. 24 statement. “Several rounds were fired at several victims who were parked in the area in their vehicle.”
Three people, including De La Rosa, were inside the car when gunfire erupted and all were hit, the LAPD confirmed. The 22-year-old suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and was rushed by private car to the hospital, where she died.
The two surviving victims, who have not yet been identified, were also taken to hospital in critical condition.
In a search warrant warrant obtained by The Times, Det. Siranush Simonyan claimed that Francisco “G Boy” Gaytan and his friend Benny “Player” Gomez, both of whom had known De La Rosa since childhood, created the singer.
Gaytan, who was arrested the same day as the fatal shooting, told police it was Gomez who made plans to meet the singer for a “drug buy” on Bryant Street and that the plan was just to rob her, Simonyan wrote in the affidavit.
Maria De La Rosa, who sang under the stage name DELAROSA, seen in a photo posted on her Instagram. (IG/@delarosaaaa)
Both Gaytan and Gomez, as well as the two alleged gunmen, were allegedly members of Bryant Street, a Northridge street gang.
Gaytan maintained his innocence, telling police he had nothing to do with the robbery. But a search of his phone revealed text messages to one of the alleged shooters, Eduardo “Active” Lopez, Simonyan said.
The text to Lopez, sent five hours before De La Rosa was killed, said: “Go get a ski mask.”
Gomez spoke with investigators a day after the shooting. He claimed he was talking to the singer outside Gaytan’s apartment when the shooters opened fire. He said he ducked and ran and later learned from De La Rosa’s mother that she had been killed.
Surveillance cameras from the nearby building contradicted Gomez’s version of events, according to the affidavit. Simonyan wrote that cameras showed Gomez talking to Lopez and the second alleged shooter moments before the singer pulled up, and that he shook their hands and made a Bryant Street gang sign before the pair disappeared down an alley.
De La Rosa called Gomez as he approached the Cadillac Escalade in which she pulled up. Moments later, the two alleged gunmen emerged from the driveway and pulled out a rifle and a handgun, Det. Simonyan wrote.
Police investigate a shooting in Northridge on November 22, 2025. (KNN)
After the shots were fired, the Escalade sped off. Security cameras, according to investigators, captured one person, possibly Gomez, saying, “Why did you shoot them, you moron?”
According to reports in The Times, the alleged shooters hid their weapons in a Chevrolet Astro van before getting into Gaytan’s BMW, where he scolded them, calling them stupid and saying: “I told you how it looks.”
Lopez and the other alleged shooter fled in a Honda Civic, possibly to Mexico, Simonyan wrote in the affidavit.
Less than 24 hours after De La Rosa’s death, Gomez texted Gaytan, saying, “Good thing they went to tj.”
The LA District Attorney’s Office listed bail amounts between $2.18 million and $2.28 million when the charges were filed, though the LAPD said Gaytan and Gomez were being held without bail after the arrests.
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“This was a ruthless and targeted attack that stole the life of a young woman and an artist and caused profound lifelong trauma to her family and the two survivors,” said LA County Prosecutor Nathan Hochman.
Gaytan and Gomez were each charged with one count of murder and two counts of second-degree robbery. If convicted as charged, they face up to life in prison without the chance of parole.
Prosecutors also announced the same charges against Lopez. However, it is not known if he has been taken into custody, nor if any charges are pending against the second alleged gunman, whose whereabouts are also unknown.
DELAROSA, who released the single “No Me Llames” in August, recently posted footage from a recording studio and was believed to be working on new music. Her death sparked grief on social media, including condolences from fans and industry figures.
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