Two of the three men charged in the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Maria de la Rosa, a Latin singer known professionally as Delarosa, may have set up the artist, according to search warrant affidavits reviewed by the Los Angeles Times.
The Nov. 22 shooting happened around 1:30 a.m. on Bryant Street east of Tampa Avenue in Northridge.
“Witnesses described seeing two male suspects approach a vehicle 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 of their vehicles.”
Three people, including De La Rosa, were inside the car when gunfire rang out, killing all of them, the LAPD confirmed. A 22-year-old woman was shot in the chest and taken to a hospital in a private car, where she died.
Two surviving victims, who have not been identified, were also taken to the hospital in critical condition.
In a search warrant affidavit obtained by The Times, Det. Sirnoosh Simonyan alleged that Francisco “G Boy” Guyton and his friend Benny “Player” Gomez, both of whom had known de la Rosa since childhood, set up the singer.
Guyton, who was arrested the day of the fatal shooting, told police it was Gomez who planned to meet the singer on Bryant Street for a “drug buy” and that the plan was simply to rob him, Simonian wrote in the affidavit.
Maria de la Rosa, who performed under the artist name DELAROSA, was seen in a photo posted on her Instagram. (IG/@delarosaaaa)
Both Guyton and Gomez, as well as the two alleged gunmen, are members of the Bryant Street, Northridge Street gang.
Gayan said he was innocent and told the police that he had nothing to do with the robbery. But a search of his phone turned up text messages to one of the alleged shooters, Eduardo “Active” Lopez, Simonian said.
The text to Lopez, sent five hours before de la Rosa was killed, reportedly said, “Go get a ski mask.”
Gomez spoke with investigators a day after the shooting. He claimed he was talking to the singer when the gunmen opened fire. He said he ducked and ran and later learned from de la Rosa’s mother that she had been killed.
According to the affidavit, surveillance cameras from a nearby apartment building contradicted Gomez’s version of events. Simonyan wrote that cameras showed Gomez talking to Lopez and the second alleged shooter before the singer pulled over and he shook hands and made a Bryant Street gang sign before the pair disappeared down an alley.
De la Rosa called out to Gomez as she got into the Cadillac Escalade. Moments later, the two alleged gunmen emerged from the alley and pulled out a shotgun and a handgun, Det. Simonian wrote.
Police are investigating a shooting that happened on November 22, 2025 in Northridge. (KNN)
After the shooting, the Escalade sped off. A security camera, according to investigators, captured a man, possibly Gomez, saying, “Why did you shoot them, idiot?”
The Times reported that the alleged gunmen hid their guns in a Chevrolet Astro van before entering Guyton’s BMW, where he called them idiots and said, “I told you what it would look like.”
Lopez and the other alleged shooter fled in a Honda Civic, possibly to Mexico, Simonian wrote in the affidavit.
Less than 24 hours after de la Rosa died, Gomez allegedly texted Gayton, “We’re good they went tj.
The LA County District Attorney’s Office listed a bail amount of $2.18 million to $2.28 million when the charges were filed, though the LAPD said Guyton and Gomez were being held without bail after their arrests.
Man, woman found dead inside director Rob Reiner’s Brentwood home, TMZ is reporting
“This was a brutal and targeted attack that stole the life of a young woman and artist and left her family and two survivors with lifelong trauma,” said L.A. County DA Nathan Hochman.
Guyton and Gomez are each charged with one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree robbery. If convicted as charged, they face a maximum of life in prison without the chance of parole.
Prosecutors also announced similar charges against Lopez. However, it is not known whether he has been taken into custody, nor is the case against the second alleged gunman, whose whereabouts are unknown.
DELAROSA, who released the single “No Me Llames” in August, recently posted footage from a recording studio and is believed to be working on new music. His death sparked grief on social media, including condolences from fans and industry figures.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, visit KTLA.
