‘The Voice Mexico’ Singer Jano Fuentes Gunned Down at Age 45

(photo: Facebook)

Tragedy has once again struck the Voice community. Only a week after 22-year-old The Voice U.S. finalist Christina Grimmie was gunned down in Orlando by a deranged fan, Alejandro “Jano” Fuentes, a top 10 contestant from The Voice Mexico (La Voz), has become a fatal victim of gun violence as well. According to multiple reports by CNN, The Chicago Tribune, and the Associated Press, Fuentes was shot to death in Chicago’s Brighton Park neighborhood, after celebrating his 45th birthday with friends.

The attack happened right in front of Tras Bambalinas, a Chicago school that Fuentes opened three years ago to teach young people performing arts. The day before the tragedy, the school posted a Facebook video of students singing “Happy Birthday” for Fuentes. A video of his final performance during his birthday celebration has also surfaced.

The Tribune reports that Fuentes was in a car last Thursday night when someone approached with a handgun and ordered him to exit the vehicle; when Fuentes refused, the gunman opened fire, shooting the singer three times in the head. The attacker fled and has not yet been found; police stated they had no suspects in the crime.

After the shooting, Fuentes was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was initially pronounced dead but placed on life support so that relatives could arrive from Mexico to say their goodbyes. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office confirmed Fuentes passed away on Saturday, according to the AP.

Fuentes competed on Season 1 of La Voz in 2011. Fuentes’s coach on the show, Mexican singing superstar Lucero, expressed her grief on Twitter, posting a photo of her with Fuentes and a caption that translated into English as: “Thank you for the moments and memories shared, my dear Jano @janofuentes1. I am going to miss you. RIP.”