Zayda Peña Arjona (March 5, 1981–December 1, 2007) was the lead singer of Zayda y Los Culpables. Shortly before midnight on November 29, 2007, an unknown gunman shot Peña in the back at Mónaco Motel in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, across the U.S.-Mexico border from Brownsville, Texas. Two other people — a friend of Peña and a motel employee were also shot. Both died at the scene. Paramedics took Zayda to Alfredo Pumarejo Hospital in Matamoros, where doctors determined that her injuries were not fatal. Physicians placed Peña in emergency surgery in order to remove the bullet. The next day, several assailants entered the hospital, roaming the corridors. Once they were able to find Zayda, the assailants went in and shot her again in the chest at point blank range to ensure her death. The Dallas Morning News stated that the fatal bullet pierced her back. The Independent and Reuters stated that the fatal bullet hit her face.She was 26 years old. The death of Peña, who had no known connections to traffickers or any criminal activity, and did not write or perform songs about traffickers, has instilled fear and great concern in many Mexican performers.
