The corridos tumbados world is mourning the loss of a rising star. Nearly a year after signing to the label headed by Fuerza Regida’s lead singer Jesús Ortiz Paz, Chuy Montana was murdered in Mexico.

In March of last year, a video went viral of Montana, born Jesús Cardenas, singing with Fuerza Regida’s lead singer’s label Street Mob while waiting to cross from Tijuana to San Diego, CA. Ortiz Paz, who is also known as JOP, signed Montana on the spot after hearing him sing on the street. 

On Wednesday evening (Feb. 7), Montana’s lifeless body was found on a roadside in Tijuana, Baja California. The local police said a group of armed men tried to kidnap Montana near the Playas de Rosarito-Tijuana highway, according to Publimetro Mexico. After being captured by the assailants, Montana reportedly escaped from them by jumping out of their car. With handcuffs still on his wrists, he was shot multiple times and killed at the scene. 

Following the news of Montana’s murder, both JOP and his Street Mob label mourned his loss. In his Instagram stories, Ortiz Paz shared videos of his times performing with Montana with a black broken-hearted emoji. Street Mob later released a message about Montana on its Instagram account.

“On behalf of Street Mob Records, we deeply regret the passing of our colleague and brother Chuy Montana,” the label said in a statement. “We stand in solidarity with his family during this time of grief. We kindly request understanding and respect from the media at this difficult moment.”

After signing with Street Mob Records, Montana released a string of singles with the label last year. His most popular song on Spotify is “Porte de Scarface,” with over 22 million streams on the platform. Montana also featured on Fuerza Regida’s song “Polvos de Chanel” from the band’s recent Pa Las Baby’s y Belikeada album.