Selena Quintanilla-Pérez (April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995) was an American singer who achieved international fame as a member of
Selena y Los Dinos and for her subsequent solo career. Her father and manager,
Abraham Quintanilla, Jr., appointed
Yolanda Saldívar president of Selena's fan club in 1991 after Saldívar had repeatedly asked permission to start one. In January 1994, Saldívar was promoted to manager of the singer's
boutiques. Selena's employees, fashion designer, and cousin began complaining about Saldívar's management style. In January 1995, Quintanilla, Jr., began receiving telephone calls and letters from angry fans who had sent membership payments and had received nothing in return. He began investigating their complaints and found evidence that Saldívar had embezzled $60,000 from the fan club and the boutiques using forged checks. After the Quintanilla family confronted her, Saldívar bought a gun, lured Selena to a motel room, and shot her in the back. Although doctors tried to revive Selena, she was pronounced dead from
loss of blood and
cardiac arrest.