Polymarchs - Death of Tony (1998)

Death of Tony (1998)

By the late 1990s, Tony Barrera received numerous opportunities to headline in nightclubs and festivals, as well as coveted radio and television slots, but Tony publicly stated that he was passionate about his family's business and how he would continue working for Polymarchs for years to come. Tony was also considered a philanthropist for his humanitarian efforts in his hometown of Puerto Angel, Oaxaca after Hurricane Pauline devastated the area in 1997. To make his mark in his hometown, Tony also opened a small nightclub which overlooked the beach; a place believed Tony would frequent on his trips back home.

On the night of 24 May 1998, A neighbor saw Tony giving a golden necklace as well as several miscellaneous items to a man who was believed to be a colleague outside his Coyoacan apartment. The man, who later returned with two other males, continued to converse with Tony before they all proceeded to enter his apartment. Local law enforcement officials believe that Tony personally knew these individuals by the manner in which they all spoke to each other. The same three individuals were seen boarding Tony's 1989 Thunderbird a few hours later. The car was retrieved several days later in a different section of the city by law enforcement.

On the morning of 26 May 1998, Tony's body was found in his apartment after friends and colleagues tried contacting him for days. He was discovered nude crouched on his bed with his head touching the floor. The autopsy results conclude that he suffered extensive head trauma by a choke-hold that punctured his trachea, destroyed his cervical vertebrae and several vital organs. There was also evidence of rectal perforation while examining his corpse. Law enforcement ruled his death a homicide.

Based on the evidence found by law enforcement, it was believed that motive for his death was homophobia, after several neighbors, friends and family confirmed that Tony began to "act strange" towards the latter part of his life. A report from newspaper La Prensa reported the possible motive as "revenge over homosexuals". While many fans and witnesses believed Tony was indeed a homosexual man, Tony, nor his family or friends have admitted that he was indeed a gay man. As of 2012, the motives for his murder are still unclear and no further evidence pointed to any possible suspects.

Tony's death was recognized by the local nightlife community all throughout Mexico City. Several colleagues from other SONIDOS, record labels, radio and television stations all gave their condolences to the Barrera family. His funeral, in his native Puerto Angel, Oaxaca, was a 5 kilometer procession through the city streets where the local schoolchildren, ordinary citizens and even the local naval sector were present. Many recognized Tony's previous humanitarian efforts to rebuild much of the city. Mexico City radio station Alfa Radio 91.3 presented Tony's last mix-show as a tribute to him. Other SONIDOS also got together and formed a "guerra de sonidos" in tribute to Tony. Discos Musart made a compilation of all of the songs he recorded in the 1990s and released them as a CD entited "Tony Barrera - 1963-1998". Polymarchs gave Tony the eternal title of chief choreographer. Many of Tony's dance routines are still used by the collective up to this day. Tony's death was also mourned by the Mexican DJ community with some DJ's crediting him as "Mexico's #1 DJ". Polymarchs continues to host tributes to Tony in their performances, the largest ones being in 2002 at the Zocalo, in 2003 for the 5th anniversary of his death, and in 2008 for the 10th anniversary of his death.