A 27-year-old Peruvian singer was killed during an armed robbery of her band’s tour bus early Sunday morning in Bagua Grande, Peru, following a performance at a local venue.
Alezka Thalia Manrique Castillo, who performed under the stage name Thalia Castillo, was shot while trying to hide in the bathroom of the tour bus carrying members of the Hermanos Guerreros orchestra.
According to fellow band member Ingrid Vallejo, six armed assailants intercepted the vehicle around 5 a.m. as the group was returning from a performance at San Martín de Porres.
“My partner wanted to go into the bus bathroom in her instinct to protect herself and the moment she was there, the shot went off,” Vallejo said.
The attackers forced the driver off the bus and physically assaulted other band members before shooting Manrique Castillo in the leg and back. The assailants then removed her from the vehicle and left her in a ditch by the roadside while ordering other band members to remain on the ground.
The suspects fled with the band’s musical instruments and performance earnings. Manrique Castillo succumbed to her injuries while being transported to Santiago Apóstol Hospital.
Jair Enrique Manrique, the singer’s brother, told RPP radio that Peru National Police have identified the suspects and are awaiting arrest warrants.
Walter Ángeles González, owner of the Hermanos Guerrero orchestra, confirmed that authorities have potentially identified one suspect but are withholding information to prevent flight risks. This marks the first such incident for the musical group.
Manrique Castillo had joined the band two months prior to the incident and was scheduled to complete her business administration degree this month. She is survived by two children, including a nine-year-old son.
“Thalia was a person full of joy, always with a smile,” Vallejo told Radio Exitosa. “Her talent and dedication to music made her special.”
The incident has prompted responses from Peru’s music community, including Grupo 5, who issued a statement addressing security concerns in the country.
