the buzz log

A ring of brutality is tightening around the musicians of Mexico. In the past 2 years, at least 14 "norteño" performers have been brutally murdered. This past week, two more slayings shocked fans and sent searches spiraling upwards.

The singer Zayda Peña was shot in the heart and killed on Saturday. She was 28 years old. On Monday, the body of 35-year-old "grupera" crooner Sergio Gómez, lead singer of the hit group K-Paz de la Sierra, was found on the side of the road. He'd been tortured and strangled.

The reaction online has been swift and overpowering. Searches for "zayda pena" leapt more than 460% yesterday. Demand for "sergio gomez" shot off the chart. Lookups for "k-paz de la sierra" surged nearly 3,000%, landing in our top 10 movers for the day.

Gómez lived in Chicago for years; his family still resides in Indiana. The searches for his name reflect the American connection. California, Illinois, and Texas stop the list of U.S. states contributing to the huge boost in queries. 

Last November, the "banda" singer Valentin Elizalde was gunned down after a performance. The response on the Web was similarly strong. But here we find ourselves again, with more young musicians dead. We can only hope this is the last.