A Mexican content creator with a substantial following on TikTok was fatally shot while conducting a livestream in Culiacan this week. Cesar Gastelum, who had amassed 650,000 followers on the platform, was killed on Tuesday in a parking lot near the local prosecutor’s office in the Sinaloa state capital.
Footage of the incident shows Gastelum seated in a vehicle with two companions at a fast-food restaurant when two assailants arrived on a motorcycle. One of the attackers opened fire before both perpetrators fled the scene. Authorities have launched an investigation and noted that Gastelum had previously posted content referencing cartel-related terminology, suggesting a possible connection to criminal organizations. President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the killing and emphasized the importance of apprehending those responsible.
This incident represents the second instance of a social media influencer being killed during a livestream in Mexico. In May 2025, beauty influencer Valeria Marquez was similarly shot dead while broadcasting on TikTok in Jalisco state. Her death prompted US sanctions against leaders of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, with authorities implicating a cartel commander in the murder.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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