Mexican influencer shot dead during TikTok livestream
A Mexican TikTok influencer with 650,000 followers was shot dead during a livestream in Culiacan, Sinaloa state. The killing occurred amid ongoing cartel violence and follows a similar incident in May involving another influencer.
A prominent Mexican social media personality was killed in a shooting incident while conducting a livestream in Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa state. Cesar Gastelum, who maintained a substantial following of 650,000 users on TikTok, was fatally shot on Tuesday in a parking lot near the local prosecutor's office. Video evidence obtained by news agencies captured the moment of the attack, showing Gastelum in conversation with two companions at a fast-food restaurant location when two individuals arrived on a motorcycle. One assailant discharged a firearm at Gastelum before both perpetrators fled the scene.
Investigations into the incident have focused on Gastelum's online content and public persona. According to Mexican security officials and local prosecutors, the influencer had posted material in which he referred to himself using terminology associated with cartel subcultures in Mexico. Security authorities indicated that some of his videos appeared to contain references or allusions to criminal organizations, though investigations remained ongoing at the time of reporting. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that authorities were working to determine the circumstances surrounding the killing.
The incident reflects a broader pattern of violence targeting social media personalities in Mexico. In May 2025, another influencer, 23-year-old beauty content creator Valeria Marquez, was similarly killed while livestreaming in Jalisco state. That murder prompted international response, with the US Department of the Treasury subsequently imposing sanctions against five leaders of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). US authorities identified a cartel commander, Ricardo Ruiz Velasco, as the primary suspect in Marquez's death. The Trump administration has offered substantial financial rewards for information leading to the capture of CJNG leadership, including a $15 million reward for the cartel's leader and up to $102 million collectively for eight senior commanders.
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