Popular Mexican Singer Tortured, Killed

Sergio Gomez, lead singer of popular Mexican band K-Paz, was found dead beside a highway yesterday. The killing is the latest in a string of south-of-the-border music slayings, the LA Times reports. Gomez was abducted late Saturday after a concert, and his body appeared to have been tortured. He is the ninth Mexican musician slain in 18 months.

Zayda Pena, a less prominent singer, was shot and killed in a hospital Saturday while recuperating from a gunshot sustained Friday. Some recently slain musicians performed Narcorrido, a musical style known for violent lyrics about drug trafficking. K-Paz, however, ruled the Pasito Duranguense scene, playing sped-up ballads, and Pena produced mostly love songs. Police have no suspects in either slaying. (More Mexico stories.)