Valentín Elizalde 20th anniversary of death, Digi Mart USA News (Reynosa, Mexico): Twenty years have passed since a group of gunmen fired at the vehicle carrying singer Valentín Elizalde as he left the Reynosa palenque, where he had performed for the last time in 2006. The anniversary falls on November 25, and friends, fans and family members continue to mourn the singer, widely known as “El Gallo de Oro.”
Two decades later, the official cause of Elizalde’s death has still not been clearly established. Some believe the killing was a settling of scores, while others point to family jealousy as the motive.
According to the official version, the singer was attacked by hitmen because he performed the corrido “A mis enemigos,” which was reportedly dedicated to “El Chapo” Guzmán. The song was said to have angered a member of a rival criminal group, who allegedly ordered the singer’s killing for challenging him in what it called his own territory.
A different account emerged around 2020, when former wife Marisol Castro, in an interview for the program Ventaneando, claimed that Fausto “Tano” Elizalde, the singer’s cousin, could be involved. Castro said Tano had always envied Valentín and wanted to have what he had.
Tano Elizalde is now married to Gabriela Sabag, Valentín’s former wife and mother of one of his daughters, which led fans, friends and relatives to direct suspicion at him. Castro stated that on the night of the attack Tano seemed very nervous and said he did not want to attend the performance, and that it was unusual for him to leave early and lie down in the truck, a position she said saved his life.
The attack took place in the early hours of November 25, 2006, at about 3:00 a.m., when Elizalde got into his truck after finishing his concert at the Reynosa palenque. Gunmen reportedly fired at least 60 times at the singer, though other reports cited in the publisher’s article describe as many as 75 shots fired at the vehicle.
Although unconfirmed, one version holds that the singer received a coup de grâce from his attackers. Those who recovered the body reportedly said Elizalde died still holding the gold rooster pendant he never removed.
Manager Mario Mendoza Grajeda and driver Reynaldo Ballesteros also died in the attack.
