A close friend of popular Los Angeles singer Maria “Dela” dela Rosa shared that the 22-year-old was, in a sense, “saving lives” the night she was fatally shot. Just before the robbery on November 22 in Northridge, he advised his “brother from another mother” not to accompany him, as reported by the police.
Ethan Clemons, a 21-year-old known as “Thanos” from Ray J’s dating show Love Cabin, was with De La Rosa in an Escalade with two friends shortly before they headed to a “low-income” area to meet someone.
“I was with her that night before everything unfolded,” Clemons recounted, stating he had initially planned to go, but she insisted he stay behind. “She saved my life that night without even knowing it.”
At her home, Clemons expressed his concerns, saying, “I don’t want you to go there; I don’t want you to get involved in anything.” He indicated that De La Rosa was aware the area was more “dangerous,” being close to the “projects.”
“Anyone not associated with the project will stand out a lot,” he remarked.
Clemons mentioned what was intended to be a brief stop to meet another friend turned into them lingering for about 15 minutes near Bryant Street on the east side of Tampa Avenue.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, witnesses observed two men approach the car around 1:25 a.m.
Clemons noted that the male driver of the Escalade and another female friend were seated in the back. “They attempted to rob the driver, but it didn’t work,” he explained.
At that moment, De La Rosa tried to lean from the passenger seat to the back when the suspects fired five shots into the vehicle, hitting her in the torso and affecting her vital organs.
“It’s hard to believe anyone could be hit like that,” Clemons reflected. “She was simply going to meet a friend. I think the wrong people heard she was heading there,” he suggested, noting that the driver was also known to carry money.
“She just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I told her even if you know people in an area, it doesn’t mean you have to meet them there,” he remarked.
Clemons confirmed that De La Rosa’s friends in the car were unharmed. “I’m really disappointed, but I believe everything happens for a reason. I’m not suggesting she deserved to die, but now she’s like an angel. I think many will learn from this experience—we can’t take life for granted,” he shared.
Both Clemons and De La Rosa were artists who held mutual respect for each other’s work. In Dela Rosa’s last Instagram post, she mentioned him and expressed pride in his accomplishments, saying, “From us little kids to young adults! I wanted to take the time to celebrate my little brother’s success from a different mother. Many blessings to come; I am so proud of you.”
There were comments on her social media implying the shooting could be gang-related, hinting at her displaying MS-13 signs, which Clemons contended was false. “She wasn’t involved with MS-13 and certainly never used gang signs,” he insisted. “She was polite and articulate,” noting her mixed heritage but primarily identifying with her Colombian roots.
Clemons emphasized that De La Rosa had no ties to gangs or drugs. Her focus was on music, spending most of her time either in the studio or at home creating.
De La Rosa had released “No Me Llames” (“Don’t Call Me”) in August and was gearing up to launch a significant new record, which Clemons found tragic given her untimely passing.
Public services for De La Rosa are scheduled for Tuesday at 12 p.m. at the San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills.
