Mexican influencer shot dead during livestream
César Gastélum, who was known for comedy and lifestyle posts, was killed at close range by a man on a motorbike.
A Mexican influencer, César Gastélum, who boasted over 500,000 TikTok followers, was fatally shot during a live broadcast on the platform.
Gastélum was filming with two companions outside a fast-food establishment in Tres Ríos, Culiacán, on Tuesday evening when two individuals on a motorbike approached, and one assailant fired at him from close range. His TikTok content primarily consisted of comedy videos.
This incident is not an isolated one, as other social media influencers have been killed in Mexico. Last year, Valeria Márquez, 23, was also shot and killed at a beauty salon while livestreaming on TikTok.
During the livestream, Gastélum and his friends were dressed in bright orange coats and bags, attire commonly associated with delivery drivers. Initial police reports, based on their outfits, mistakenly identified the victim as a delivery driver, but authorities were later informed of his true identity.
Police and forensic teams have secured the area and are analyzing cartridge casings and CCTV footage for leads. As of now, no arrests have been made, and the two individuals on the motorbike escaped the scene.
It remains unknown whether Gastélum had received any threats. His Instagram account frequently featured images of his travels, social outings, and poses with luxury vehicles. One of his posts showed him at the grave of fellow influencer Leobardo Aispuro, known as "El Gordo Peruci." Aispuro was fatally shot in December 2024, a killing police believe may be connected to the rivalry between two factions of the Sinaloa cartel.
Violence in Sinaloa, where Culiacán is the capital, has escalated since the September 2024 falling out between the two factions, Los Chapitos and La Mayiza.