Dennis RomeroFans gathered in Lakewood overnight to mourn the passing of Long Beach native Jenni Rivera, who became a multi-media star based on her Mexican banda music.
Her father reportedly confirmed her passing outside the family's Lakewood, home where the Rivera faithful had come with candles and flowers.
The private jet the 43-year-old was believed to be riding in following a concert in Monterrey, Mexico, crashed en route to an airport outside Mexico City, according to reports.
Mexican officials also reportedly said there appeared to be no survivors: Rivera's ID was found at the scene.
Fans also gathered at the Plaza Mexico strip mall in Lynwood, according to Patch.
While she was a touring banda star, the Los Angeles Times notes that Rivera had become a franchise on the NBC-affiliated mun2 network, where her latest show was called “I Love Jenni:”
… The Rivera family would be to the network what the Kardashian clan is to E! network.
Tony Ortega, former Village Voice editor-in-chief, profiled Rivera in 2001:
Credit: Jenni Rivera Music / Facebook
Jenni Rivera says it's a hard thing to do, but she has to turn down the many requests she gets from the teenage daughters of drug dealers to play their quinceañeras. “I get letters every day: 'My daddy can pay anything for you to play for us,' they'll say. I try to be as nice as possible. But I tell them I'm just too busy. I don't want to offend them,” says Rivera …
After she says she was abused by an ex-husband, Rivera became outspoken against domestic abuse and has supported her stance via her foundation.
See more coverage at our sister publication OC Weekly.
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