Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, an American singer of Mexican descent, was remembered by her fans Tuesday as Oct. 17 marked the day when her self-titled official debut album was released in 1989. Mononymously known as Selena, the singer was murdered when she was 23 years old, on March 31, 1995, just two weeks before her 24th birthday.

Selena, who was born on April 16, 1971, in Corpus Christi, Texas, was shot dead by Yolanda Saldívar, a friend and former manager at the Selena Etc boutiques. After being shot, the "Como la Flor" singer managed to escape to the lobby, before she was rushed to the hospital and was pronounced dead. Selena's death was sparked after her family suspected Saldívar of stealing money.

After shooting Selena, Saldívar locked herself in her pick-up truck in the parking lot of the hotel with the gun for over 10 hours before surrendering after the long standoff with police and the FBI. Selena started her music career at the age of nine years as a member of the Selena y Los Dinos, a band started by her father, Abraham Quintanilla, Jr.

Yolanda was found guilty of Selena's murder in a trial in Houston. Currently, she is serving her sentence at the Mountain View Unit in Gatesville and will be eligible for parole in March 2025.

During the trial, Saldívar tried to claim that Selena was accidentally shot but the jury rejected the claim.

According to a 1995 New York Times report on Saldivar’s conviction, the “jury here in Houston took less than two and a half hours to convict the defendant, Yolanda Saldivar, apparently rejecting the contention of her lawyers that the gun that killed Selena, who was 23, had gone off accidentally and that Ms. Saldivar had really meant to kill herself.”

In closing arguments, the prosecutor described how Saldivar “took the gun out, cocked the hammer, pulled the trigger and killed her” at a Days Inn motel, adding, “What could be a worse way to die than to be shot in the back in a cowardly manner?”

Google Doodle honored Selena Tuesday, writing: She “became a beacon of inspiration and hope for the Latinx, immigrant, and bicultural communities around the globe. Her story of embracing and celebrating all parts of her cultural heritage and persevering in the face of adversity forged an emotional connection with millions."

On her 22nd death anniversary this year, the Quintanilla family mourned the loss of the iconic star.

"Early on when she passed away, people would tell me that time heals your heart and I couldn’t understand that," Selena's older sister, Suzette Quintanilla, told Entertainment Tonight's Deidre Behar in March. "It’s not so much that time heals your heart, it’s more than time helps you deal with what’s been put in front of you."

"Your heart will never heal," she continued. "There’s this emptiness that’s in the heart. It doesn’t get any easier, you just learn how to deal with it. I was raised knowing that one day, she’ll be resurrected and we’ll see her again."

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