Mexican social media influencer Cesar Gastelum was shot and killed while livestreaming with friends outside a fast-food restaurant in the northwestern city of Culiacán, authorities have confirmed.
According to Reuters, Gastelum, who had nearly 600,000 followers on TikTok and was known for his comedy content, was broadcasting live on Tuesday when two individuals riding a motorcycle approached the group. Both suspects were reportedly wearing helmets.
Footage from the livestream, reviewed by Reuters, appeared to show the motorcycle’s driver opening fire directly at Gastelum before the broadcast ended.
A security official in the northwestern state of Sinaloa confirmed the influencer’s death and said authorities had launched a major security operation to track down those responsible.
The killing comes as Culiacán continues to grapple with persistent violence linked to rival organised crime groups battling for control of the region. The city, which is the capital of Sinaloa state, has experienced repeated outbreaks of violence in recent years.
Gastelum’s death also echoes the killing of Mexican beauty influencer Valeria Márquez, who was shot dead during a TikTok livestream in May 2025 while working at a beauty salon in Zapopan, Jalisco. She was 23.
Mexican prosecutors investigated Márquez’s killing under the country’s femicide protocols. In July this year, authorities announced the arrest of Ramón Ángel Álvarez Ayala, also known as “El R-1”, whom Security Minister Omar García Harfuch identified as the leader of a criminal cell linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
Officials have accused Álvarez Ayala of ordering and financing Márquez’s murder, as well as the November 2025 killing of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo.
Authorities have not yet announced any arrests in connection with Gastelum’s killing, and investigations remain ongoing.
SOURCE: REUTERS