Benjamín Medrano Killed in Guadalajara: Singer and First Mexican Mayor to Publicly Come Out as Gay Fatally Shot

• Benjamín Medrano killed.
• Family demands justice.
• Armed attack in Guadalajara.

Benjamín Medrano Quezada, former mayor of Fresnillo, former state and federal lawmaker, and singer, was killed in an armed attack in Guadalajara, a crime that is now under investigation by authorities in the state of Jalisco.

The homicide took place inside an ice cream and popsicle shop located in the Santa Elena de la Cruz neighborhood, where residents reported hearing several gunshots during the evening.

Security personnel and emergency responders arrived at the business after receiving the emergency calls, but upon arrival they confirmed that the victim no longer showed any signs of life.

The assassination of Benjamín Medrano has sparked reactions both within political circles and among people who followed his public career, as he was a well-known figure in Zacatecas and throughout Mexico.

A Targeted Attack Ended Benjamín Medrano’s Life Inside a Popsicle Shop

Preliminary investigations indicate that the attacker arrived at the scene on an orange motorcycle and went directly toward the victim.

According to witness statements collected by investigators, the suspect got off the motorcycle, opened fire, and fled immediately after the attack.

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Forensic experts from the Jalisco Institute of Forensic Sciences processed the crime scene and removed the body, while the Public Prosecutor’s Office opened a criminal investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the homicide.

Zacatecas Attorney General Cristian Paul Camacho Osnaya later confirmed that the Jalisco State Prosecutor’s Office had notified his office that Medrano died from «a gunshot wound to the head.»

Family Calls for a Thorough Investigation

The victim’s identity was not officially confirmed until early Friday morning by a family member because Medrano was not carrying identification documents at the time of the attack.

Juan Carlos Medrano Quezada identified the victim as his brother and said the news came as a shock to the entire family.

He also called on both state and federal authorities to conduct a thorough investigation that will clarify both the motive behind the killing and the identity of the person responsible.

He further explained that after facing legal proceedings that he described as politically motivated persecution, Benjamín Medrano left Zacatecas and lived in several states across Mexico as well as in the United States before eventually settling in Guadalajara after obtaining a favorable court ruling.

Authorities Are Also Reviewing His Legal History

The Zacatecas attorney general stated that Medrano remained the subject of an investigative file stemming from a complaint filed by the Ministry of Public Administration in 2022.

However, he clarified that a court ruling issued in 2025 overturned the arrest warrant that had previously been issued against him.

As a result, at the time of his death, Medrano was no longer considered a fugitive from justice, the official explained during his remarks on the case.

As the investigation continues, the family announced that Medrano’s remains will be transported to Nochistlán, Zacatecas, where he will be laid to rest during a private funeral ceremony.

Benjamín Medrano: A Public Figure Who Left His Mark on Mexican Politics

Benjamín Medrano was born on August 16, 1966, and built a career in both music and politics.

He served as a state lawmaker in Zacatecas from 2010 to 2013. He was later elected mayor of Fresnillo and subsequently served as a federal congressman from 2015 to 2018.

In 2016, he gained national attention when he publicly came out as gay during a meeting of the Constitutional Affairs Committee while defending legislation supporting same-sex marriage.

With that decision, he became the first Mexican mayor to publicly acknowledge his sexual orientation while serving in a high-profile political career, setting a precedent in the national discussion surrounding diversity and inclusion in Mexican politics, according to El Heraldo de México and Infobae.