On December 5, 2021, a concert by Grupo Codiciado at the Palenque Fex in Mexicali, Baja California, ended in chaos when an altercation between a fan and the group's security escalated into violence, including gunfire. The incident has led to serious accusations against the band's vocalist, Erick de Jesús Aragón Alcántar, who is alleged to have ordered a security guard to assault a fan, resulting in a formal complaint for attempted homicide.
According to reports, the incident occurred around 2:05 AM as the concert was concluding. A 26-year-old fan, identified as Omar, approached Erick Aragón in the VIP area to request a photo. Sources claim that Aragón ignored the request, and after a verbal exchange where the fan reportedly said, “Te agüitas ¿o qué?” (implying Aragón was acting dismissive), the situation deteriorated. Aragón allegedly signaled to his security team, prompting a guard named Luis to confront the fan. The guard struck Omar, and when Omar retaliated, another individual from the security team fired a 9mm weapon, causing panic among attendees. A single casing was recovered at the scene, and no injuries were reported, though the gunshot created widespread fear, leading to a chaotic evacuation.
Multiple videos captured by concertgoers, including one shared on X by user @alisguerra8, show the moment of the altercation and the subsequent gunshot, corroborating the accounts of witnesses. The footage depicts Aragón engaging with the fan before the security guard's intervention, which aligns with the narrative that Aragón instigated the assault. A Facebook video from the page Minela China Oficial further documented the tense atmosphere at the event, though it does not directly show the incident.
The fan, fearing retaliation, initially kept his identity anonymous but filed a formal complaint with the Baja California State Prosecutor’s Office (FGE) on December 13, 2021, accusing Aragón of attempted homicide. The complaint details that the gunshot was aimed at the fan but missed, and it alleges that Aragón’s security team later threatened the victim and his wife to deter them from pursuing legal action. The FGE is investigating, with one of the aggressors, a 26-year-old named Jonathan from Tijuana, identified as part of the band’s staff. The case is being analyzed to determine if it qualifies as attempted homicide, supported by ballistic evidence and video footage.
This incident marked a tumultuous period for Grupo Codiciado, a band known for its contributions to the regional Mexican genre, particularly trap corridos. The Mexicali concert was reportedly their final performance as a group, as internal disputes led to their dissolution shortly after. Erick Aragón, under his stage name Codiciado, later pursued a solo career, obtaining a U.S. visa in 2024 to perform in cities like Las Vegas and Los Angeles. However, his legal troubles continued, as he filed a lawsuit in 2022 against former bandmates and their label, Rancho Humilde, alleging trademark infringement over the use of the “Grupo Codiciado” name.
The Mexicali incident has raised concerns about artist-fan interactions and the conduct of private security at public events. Critics, including local media outlet Semanario Contraseña, have pointed to Aragón’s “arrogance” and the lack of oversight at the Fex venue as contributing factors, calling for stricter regulations to prevent such incidents. The controversy has left a stain on Aragón’s reputation, overshadowing his musical achievements and highlighting the challenges of fame within the regional Mexican music scene.