How did Selena Quintanilla die? Details explored as Tejano music icon’s father Abraham dies at 86

Suzette Quintanilla;Abraham Jr. Quintanilla [Misc.];Selena [Misc.];Selena [Family];Abraham III Quintanilla;Yolanda Saldivar [Misc.];Selena [Family];Chris Perez;Selena [Misc.] - Source: Getty
Family of late Tejano singer Selena, including husband Chris Perez, parents Marcella and Abraham Quintanilla, and siblings A.B. and Suzette Quintanilla, pictured together following her death. (Image via Getty/Barbara Laing)

Selena Quintanilla's father, Abraham Quintanilla Jr., has died.

E! News has reported that the patriarch of the late Tejano music legend's family was instrumental in helming his children's band, Selena y Los Dinos. He died on December 13 at the age of 86, his son, Abraham "A.B." Quintanilla III, confirmed on Instagram.

Paired with a photo of himself alongside his dad, he wrote in the caption:

“It’s with a heavy heart to let you guys know that my Dad passed away today.”

As of this writing, a cause of death has yet to be announced. However, the news comes weeks after an autopsy report shed light on the exact circumstances surrounding Selena Quintanilla's demise.

Yolanda Saldivar shot and killed the legendary songstress in March 1995. She was consequently sentenced to life behind bars, and was denied parole just this past March. In the autopsy report, the singer's demise was ruled a homicide, prompted by a bullet that pierced her lower right shoulder. She died due to massive internal and external bleeding.


Selena Quintanilla and father Abraham's lives and legacies explored:

Us Weekly shared the autopsy report two weeks ago. Penned by coroner Lloyd White and expedited in the interest of the public, it read:

"It is my opinion that Selena Quintanilla Pérez, a 23-year-old woman, came to her death as a result of an exsanguinating internal and external hemorrhage, in other words, massive bleeding, due to a perforating gunshot wound of the [chest]."

The report stated that the bullet entered through the back of Selena Quintanilla's shoulder, pierced her ribs and upper lung, and punctured her chest wall. It exited her body through her upper chest, injuring her subclavian artery. White noted that "blood was present over many areas of the clothes."

As for Selena Quintanilla's father, Abraham, he was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, where the former was shot and killed. He initially pursued a career in music himself, which he later abandoned to raise his children with wife Marcella Quintanilla.

He formed his kids' band, with Selena on vocals, A.B. on bass, and Suzette Quintanilla playing the drums. He served as their manager until Selena's fatal shooting, after which the group disbanded. In the years since then, her father appointed himself the chief guardian of her artistic and cultural legacy, Variety has reported.

He also served as an executive producer on the 1997 biographical film “Selena,” in which Edward James Olmos portrayed him, and Jennifer Lopez portrayed his daughter. He was heavily linked to every album release, documentary, and project related to his daughter.


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Edited by Jenel Treza Albuquerque