Selena Quintanilla’s immense talent departed the world prematurely. The singer, famously known as Selena, was still ascending in her music career when she passed away.
Beginning her musical journey alongside her brother A.B. Quintanilla and sister Suzette Quintanilla in the band Selena y Los Dinos, she displayed promise from a young age. Transitioning to a solo career in 1989, Selena achieved acclaim, winning a Grammy Award for best Mexican-American album with Selena Live! in 1993.
A pinnacle moment arrived when she graced the stage of the Houston Astrodome Livestock Show & Rodeo, captivating a record-breaking audience of nearly 67,000 in February 1995.
Tragically, the subsequent month saw her life cut short by the hands of her former business associate, Yolanda Saldívar, on March 31, 1995, in Corpus Christi, Texas. Selena’s untimely demise reverberated globally, particularly among her fervent fan base.
Despite the passage of years, the profound impact of her loss endures. Her family and her husband, Chris Pérez, have tirelessly honored her memory through annual musical tributes, a museum dedicated to preserving her legacy, and the commemoration of her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
“Over the years, the new generations have discovered her and have fallen in love with her,” he said in 2021. “Selena’s life was cut short, but her fans have carried her throughout the years and her legacy is being passed on from generation to generation. That in itself is incredible.”
Cause Of Selena Quintanilla’s Death
Selena’s life was tragically cut short by Yolanda Saldívar, who held positions of trust within the singer’s inner circle.
Accusations of embezzlement surfaced during a tense confrontation between Selena and her family with Saldívar on March 2, 1995. Following Saldívar’s dismissal, she acquired a .38-caliber revolver and arranged a meeting with Selena at a Corpus Christi Days Inn motel later that month.
Intended to recover financial records, the encounter took a devastating turn when Saldívar shot Selena once in the lower right shoulder as she tried to exit the room. Despite her wound, the “Amor Prohibido” vocalist fled towards the motel lobby, with Saldívar in pursuit, brandishing the gun.
When Selena reached the front desk just before noon, she cried out for assistance and collapsed onto the floor. As the Days Inn staff urgently summoned an ambulance and tried to stem the bleeding, Saldívar retreated to her room.
Eyewitnesses recounted how Selena managed to identify her assailant and provide the motel room number before slipping into unconsciousness.
The Associated Press later disclosed that the hollow-point bullet inflicted severe damage to Selena’s right shoulder, lung veins, and a major artery in her collarbone.
The resulting extensive blood loss was described by cardiac surgeon Dr. Louis Elkins as catastrophic. Despite preparations for surgery, Selena arrived at the emergency room in a state of clinical brain death.
Selena passed away at 1:05 p.m. on March 31, 1995. She tragically lost her life outside the Days Inn in Corpus Christi, Texas.
The motel staff swiftly called for an ambulance, which arrived at the scene in just 1 minute and 55 seconds.
Sadly, by this time, Selena had ceased breathing, prompting paramedics to immediately initiate CPR. Applying pressure with gauze to staunch the bleeding, they transported her from the Days Inn motel to Corpus Christi Memorial Hospital.
Upon arrival, medical personnel spared no effort to save her life, resorting to measures such as open heart massage and blood transfusions.
Despite their tireless endeavors to restore a steady heart rate, Selena displayed no neurological activity due to extensive internal bleeding, as reported by the Associated Press.
After approximately an hour of intensive care, the beloved “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” singer was pronounced dead at 1:05 p.m
How Old Was She At The Time Of Death?
Selena was 23 years old at the time of her death, just two weeks shy of her birthday on April 16th.
Public Reaction
Selena’s untimely passing deeply shook her loved ones and fans alike, sparking vigils and memorials across Texas and California, where she held immense popularity.
Ahead of her funeral, Selena’s family organized an open-casket viewing at the Bayfront Plaza Convention Center, as reported by The New York Times.
Surrounded by countless bouquets of white roses contributed by grieving fans, tens of thousands of mourners filed past to bid their final farewells.
Amidst this outpouring of support, her father, Abraham, expressed gratitude to those who had come to pay their respects.
Shortly after her passing, Selena was laid to rest at Seaside Memorial Park on April 3, 1995. During the solemn ceremony, her husband, Chris, was observed in attendance.
Following the burial, family members, friends, and devoted fans tenderly placed white roses upon her casket as a final gesture of farewell. At her gravesite, a bronze likeness of the singer alongside her distinctive signature serves as a lasting tribute.
Just a few miles away from Selena’s final resting place, a poignant monument was unveiled in her honor on May 25, 1997.
Known as Mirador de la Flor, meaning Lookout of the Flower, the memorial is adorned with a motif of white roses. At its center stands a life-sized bronze statue of Selena, gracefully leaning against a pillar, overlooking the serene expanse of Corpus Christi Bay.
