In brief
César Gastélum, a comedic TikTok influencer, was shot dead while livestreaming outside a fast‑food outlet in Culiacán, Sinaloa. Two men on a motorbike fired at him from close range. Police cordoned the scene and are analysing CCTV footage, but no arrests have been made. The death follows other high‑profile influencer killings, including Valeria Márquez, and underscores the violence erupting in Sinaloa following a split between rival cartel factions. The incident highlights the broader pattern of social media figures becoming targets amid drug‑related conflicts in Mexico.
Mexican influencer César Gastélum was shot dead while livestreaming on TikTok, police confirmed Tuesday evening.
The 26‑year‑old was filming outside a fast‑food restaurant in Tres Ríos, a neighbourhood of the city of Culiacán, when two men on a bike approached and fired a single, close‑range shot.
Gastélum had amassed more than half a million followers on TikTok, primarily sharing comedic sketches. The death is the second high‑profile influencer shooting in Mexico, following 23‑year‑old Valeria Márquez’s death at a beauty salon earlier this year.
In the footage, Gastélum and his friends wore bright orange coats and delivery‑style bags. Police initially misidentified the scene as a delivery incident, but were later alerted that the victim was a well‑known social media personality.
Authorities cordoned the area, examined cartridge casings and analysed surrounding CCTV footage. The two suspects on the motorbike fled; no arrests have yet been made, and the motive remains unclear.
Gregory‑style accounts reveal that Gastélum frequently posted images of luxury cars and nightlife. One photo captured him at the grave of fellow influencer “El Gordo Peruci,” whose own murder in December 2024 may have been linked to a feud between the Los Chapitos and La Mayiza factions of the Sinaloa Cartel.
Since September 2024, violence in the state capital of Culiacán has risen sharply, with the government deploying additional security forces amid ongoing cartel skirmishes.
The shooting of a popular TikTok star amid a climate of escalating cartel violence spotlights the risks faced by public figures in regions where criminal groups wield significant influence.
