It is with deep shock that we learn of the murder of Paul Flores on 16 March 2025. Flores, a musician featured in Freemuse’s Music Freedom Day 2025 action that raised the impact of the rising tide of violence and insecurity in Peru, was the lead singer of the renowned cumbia band Armonía 10. Known as El Ruso, he was fatally shot while the band’s bus was returning from a performance in the city of Huacho. The incident occurred in San Juan de Lurigancho, a district of Lima known for its high crime rates. Individuals on a motorbike fired shots at the vehicle, seriously wounding Flores, who was rushed to the San Juan de Lurigancho Hospital, but was dead on arrival.
Less than two weeks earlier, Freemuse published an article, part of Music Freedom Day, documenting how, throughout 2024, cumbia artists and their sub-genre chicha had been targeted by violence and organised crime, highlighting Armonía 10 as one of the groups affected. Sparked by Flores’ death, and under the slogan #NoQueremosMorir (#wedontwanttodie), on 21 March, artists, citizen collectives and representatives of various artistic and cultural unions marched from the Plaza San Martín to the Congress demanding concrete measures against crime.
In response to public pressure, the government declared a state of emergency in Lima and Callao, authorising the deployment of the Armed Forces to support the police. However, violence against musicians is a latent problem. According to Colonel Jorge Carpio, head of the Kidnapping and Extortion Division of the Peruvian National Police, at least 15 orchestras have been threatened recently. Several criminal organizations are believed to be behind these acts, all with the same objective: to extort money from the artists and control their performances.
Armonía 10’s manager, Agustín Távara, spoke in a television interview that the group had received threats both before and after the murder. Shortly after the crime, an individual who identified himself as ‘El Monstruo’, leader of the criminal gang ‘Los Injertos del Norte’, claimed responsibility for the attack and demanded the payment of 70,000 soles (approximately 20,000 dollars). He warned that if the money were not paid, another singer would be his next victim. This organisation is known for its extortion of orchestras and artists, demanding payments in exchange for “protection”, a practice that has become increasingly common in the Peruvian music scene.
While the investigation continues, Armonía 10 has announced its return to the stage in honour of Flores. In a statement, the group thanked their fans for their support and asked for security guarantees for all the country’s artists.
By Diana Arévalo
