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Why Did Yolanda Saldivar Kill Selena Quintanilla? Her Reason

On March 30, 2025, it will mark exactly 30 years since Selena Quintanilla was murdered by Yolanda Saldívar. Learn more about the motives behind Yolanda’s crime here.

As her family, loved ones, and fans continue to keep her spirit alive through her music and cherished memories, the question remains: why did Yolanda end Selena’s life? Shortly thereafter, the two met at the Days Inn in Corpus Christi, where Selena went to retrieve some documents. Although the exact motive remains unclear, Yolanda shared in a 1995 interview with ABC’s 20/20, according to Yahoo Entertainment, “They made me out to be a monster, and I just want to say, I did not kill Selena.” She added, “It was an accident, and my conscience is clear.” Yolanda claimed she had taken the gun to harm herself, not Selena, and in her version of events, “When she was walking to the door, she was going at an angle, and I told her, ‘Don’t close the door.’ And in that instant, the gun went off.”

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