On a typical Thursday night at the high-end restaurant Suntory Del Valle, guests were expecting an evening of good food and entertainment in the heart of Mexico City.
But when the tender melodies of the young singer filled the air, a chilling turn of events turned the evening into a night of terror. Unbeknownst to the congregation, tragedy was unfolding before their eyes.
Yrma Lydia, a 21-year-old rising star of Mexican music, finds herself face to face with her husband Jesús Hernández Alcocer – a man four decades her senior – whose jealousy and anger have turned deadly.
Within moments, the joyous atmosphere was shattered when Alcocer drew his gun and ended Lydia’s life in front of a stunned audience.
A talented Mexican singer was performing at the Suntory Del Valle restaurant in southern Mexico City when her lawyer husband entered the premises and fatally shot her. Yrma Lydia, a 21-year-old aspiring singer in Mexico, was murdered by her 79-year-old partner Jesús Hernández Alcocer on Thursday night in front of many witnesses. After the incident, he tried to bribe the police and security personnel.
The man shot his wife three times with a gun. “He is currently in custody with another woman who was with him,” said Omar GarcÃa Harfuch, Mexico City’s security minister.
An individual at the restaurant said the singer and an older man got into an argument before he brandished a gun and shot the young singer, who was revealed to be his wife. After the murder, Alcocer attempted to bribe the Mexican police to facilitate the escape of his bodyguards to the safety of their residence.
Alcocer has an unblemished record. He was previously accused of extortion, according to the report.
The Daily Mail reports that crime rates have increased during the presidency of Andrés Manuel López Obrador in Mexico. Gender-based violence is a significant problem in Mexico, with an average of ten women murdered every day. There have been more murders in President Obrador’s three and a half years in office than his predecessor’s six years. Felipe Calderon was the predecessor of the Mexican president.
During his presidential campaign, Obrador frequently criticized the increased crime rate attributed to the Calderon administration. Nevertheless, crime has escalated significantly under Republican administrations.
Jalisco is the most violent state in Mexico, witnessing the death of ten police officers in 2022.
At the same time, Obrador treats criminals leniently. He said his administration would not prioritize the capture of drug gang leaders. In 2019, he ordered the release of a jailed leader of the Sinaloa cartel to prevent violent cartel conflict.
Obrador says his approach to crime is characterized by “hugs, not bullets.” Still, he appears to show tolerance for Mexican gangs, even praising them at one point for not interfering with his candidacy.
The Mexican president was recently asked about his intentions to take a tougher approach to crime and revise his strategy. He replied, “No, quite the opposite.” This is the right way.
Mexican publication El Universal reported that singer Lydia participated in Grandiosas 12. The series features numerous events throughout Mexico and the United States, featuring renowned artists from Central and South America. Past attendees at the event include singers MarÃa Conchita Alonso, Dulce, and Alicia Villareal, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Lydia’s connection to her husband Alcocer remains ambiguous. It is known that she has just moved from the family mansion to an apartment in Mexico City.
Friends of the singer expressed their grief over her death on social networks. Someone commented: “We will always remember you, your voice, and your kindness.”
Another acquaintance commented: “I’m incredulous.” I only observed her last week.
Lydia’s murder is currently being investigated by Mexican authorities. The status of potential charges against Alcocer is uncertain at this time.
The tragic murder of Yrma Lydia, a promising young singer, has cast a dark shadow over Mexico’s entertainment and social scene and highlighted the country’s ongoing problem of gender-based violence. Her untimely death, seen by many, followed by her husband Jesús Hernández Alcocero’s shocking attempt to bribe the authorities, underscores both the personal and systemic failures that allowed this event to unfold.
Lydia’s murder is more than an isolated act of violence; it reflects the broader crisis of femicide and the escalation of crime in Mexico, which continues unabated under the current leadership.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s controversial “hugs, not bullets” policy to curb violence with softer measures has been heavily criticized, especially as rates of violence against women and deaths linked to organized crime continue to rise. The increase in crime underscores the need for a more effective strategy to address Mexico’s deep-seated problems, particularly when it comes to women’s safety.
As the investigation unfolds, it is critical for authorities to pursue justice for Lydia and demonstrate a commitment to protecting women from violence. Her friends and family, along with many others in Mexico, mourn her loss and advocate for her memory to be a reminder of the need to act against gender-based violence.
Lydia’s story should serve as a call for change—one that forces society to demand justice and safety for women so that no one else has to share her fate.