LOS ANGELES, CA – September 14, 2020 – Rodri Entertainment announced today that in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month a MARIACHI USA special will air at 1:00 PM PST on Saturday, September 19^th on Univision’s local Los Angeles station, Unimas 46 (KFTR).  This June would have been MARIACHI USA’s 31^st annual at the Hollywood Bowl, however it was cancelled due to the global pandemic.  MARIACHI USA promises to bring audiences mariachi performances they have so been missing these last six months.  Celebrating family, pride and tradition continues in the safety of fans’ homes!   

“Late February I had a gut feeling our Festival would have to wait until 2021 because our fans’ health and well-being are of priority concern. We later began plans to create a virtual show which morphed into a celebration for Hispanic Heritage Month,” said Rodri J. Rodriguez, creator, producer and host of MARIACHI USA. “We are not going to let a global pandemic defeat us…the fans need their mariachi now more than ever, so the show must go on!”

The one-hour televised music special will feature performances by Mi Tierra Ballet Folklorico and mariachi favorites Mariachi Tapatio from New York, Mariachi Lindas Mexicanas from Los Angeles, Mariachi Campanas de America, Mariachi Las Alteñas and Mariachi Azteca de America from San Antonio, Texas, Mariachi Los Reyes from Los Angeles, Mariachi Los Arrieros from McAllen, Texas, Ellas from Los Angeles, Mariachi Nuevo Tecatitlan from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico and GRAMMY Award-winning Mariachi Divas from Los Angeles, California.
“We are proud to continue this long-standing relationship with MARIACHI USA and offer this Los Angeles tradition to our Latino community. We are thrilled to offer this special program via our Unimas Network on local station KFTR Ch. 46. Mariachi music is such an important part of our cultural heritage and Univision Los Angeles is proud to once again bring this nostalgic event to our audience,” said Luis Patiño, President and General Manager.

The special will feature compositions by the legendary Jose Alfredo Jimenez. Jimenez was a Mexican singer/songwriter of rancheras, who composed over 1000 songs in his lifetime, many of which have been recorded by renowned artists Lucha Villa, Vicente Fernandez, Luis Miguel and Rocio Durcal. MARIACHI USA groups will perform Jimenez’s songs in honor of his contributions to Mexico’s musical heritage and the generations of mariachi singers he inspires through his compositions.

“We have all had interesting and enlightening challenges in producing this show; recording from our homes, editing by Zoom, shooting pyro from dry lake beds – it’s been quite a loving adventure that is creating fascinating storytelling and life altering experiences!” said Rodriguez. “From the stage of America’s #1 venue, the Hollywood Bowl to a backyard in East LA, to The Alamo parking lot to a street in Montebello, a schoolroom in McAllen to a horse field in Guadalajara…strip away the glitz and the lights and you still get puro corazon, puro Mariachi!”

MARIACHI USA is presented by Verizon and Univision Los Angeles.
MARIACHI USA
Saturday, September 19, 2020
1:00 PM PST
UNIMAS 46

The officer allegedly fired on Turner after she grabbed his Taser. But documents obtained by Houston Public Media earlier this year revealed that the Taser model was incapable of shooting a second set of darts without being manually reloaded.

The Baytown police officer prosecutors say shot and killed Pamela Turner in 2019 was indicted Monday, according to the Harris County Distirct Attorney’s Office.

A grand jury indicted Juan Delacruz on one charge of aggravated assault by a public servant, a first-degree felony. If convicted, Delacruz could serve five years to life in prison.

“Pam Turner’s killing was a tragedy; it is important to acknowledge that her family and the community are in pain,” read a statement from Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg.

“Every aspect of the case was independently investigated by the Texas Rangers and our Civil Rights Division prosecutors. Ultimately, we presented all of the evidence to a grand jury that determined the Baytown Police officer should be charged with a crime for his actions when he shot Ms. Turner. We respect their decision and we will be moving forward with prosecution.”

Delacruz’s attorney, Greg Cagle, said he had not yet seen the indictment Monday afternoon. But he accused prosecutors of having political motives, referencing recent public resignations from Ogg’s office.

“It doesn’t surprise me given the political nature of that office in this point in time, as evidenced not only by this indictment but the recent resignation by their own employees saying that charges and case dispositions are being motivated by politics rather than the facts,” Cagle said.

Turner, 44, was shot and killed May 13, 2019 outside of her Baytown apartment complex, on the 1600 block of Garth Road.

Delacruz was attempting to arrest Turner for outstanding warrants when she resisted, according to police. Video taken by a witness at the scene appears to show Delacruz deploying his Taser as Turner attempted to escape. Baytown police said Turner then attempted to grab the Taser, and fearing for his life, Delacruz opened fire and killed Turner.

But earlier this year, amid the anniversary of her shooting, documents obtained by Houston Public Media from the city of Baytown revealed that the Taser model Delacruz used was incapable of shooting a second set of darts without being manually reloaded. Turner’s lawyer, Ben Crump, became aware of the model of Taser after being contacted by a reporter, and used the information to put added pressure on the DA’s office. Ogg later confirmed she would bring the case before a grand jury.

Crump did not immediately return a request for comment.