CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The day Selena died is one of those moments people will never forget.
Fans will remember where they were when they heard the news. Many people heard it on the radio or television.
”OK, so if you just joined us, Selena earlier today was shot, and she died on the operating table, and we are in memory of Selena this whole hour," a local radio DJ said.
I found about it through a friend who called me. I was in complete shock. I just couldn’t believe it. I was a huge fan.
Selena was considered the Madonna of Tejano music.
Her concerts and dances were packed and sold out. She was bold and sexy and a rising star who had just won a Grammy and recorded a crossover album with songs in English.
On March 31, 1995, a bullet silenced her beautiful voice.
The next day, Selena's dad, Abraham Quintanilla, held a news conference.
”My daughter Selena was killed this morning by a disgruntled employee," said Abraham.
Selena had gone to a Days Inn in Corpus Christi to confront the former president of her fan club, Yolanda Saldivar, about alleged misappropriation of money.
”There were some discrepancies with the fan club and it resulted in her shooting Selena," said Quintanilla.
Selena was shot in the in the shoulder, severing a main artery.
She ran toward the lobby, leaving a trail of blood. Just before she collapsed on the floor, she named Saldivar as her killer.
”I don’t know what happened to Yolanda, She went nuts and took something from us, from everybody," said former Corpus Christi Police Chief Ken Bung.
Meanwhile, Saldivar ran to her truck and was in a standoff with police for nine and a half hours, at times crying and pointing a gun to her head before she was taken into custody.
”She was expressing remorse all through the incident. She was upset and crying," Bung said.
The next day, there were candlelight vigils and people stood in line at record stores sobbing.
"She worked so hard to get to the top and now someone has come and taken it all away from her," a fan said.
And then, people lined up for miles to pay their respects and pass by her coffin.
I knew the family at the time because I worked in Corpus Christi, so I got into the funeral and stood feet away from her coffin where people were placing white roses, her favorite.
”I think she left a big empty place in Tejano music, and I don’t think it will ever be filled," said a fan.
The year before Selena died, I interviewed her, and I asked her what she wanted to be doing 10 years from now, and she started her answer with “If I’m still alive.” I thought how odd that a 22-year-old woman answered like that, almost like a foreshadowing.
But one thing I know is she may be gone but will live on forever.
Her killer is eligible for parole this year.