Mexican Influencer Shot Dead While Livestreaming



César Gastélum, male, bearded, blaring a selfie
César Gastélum had more than 500,000 followers on TikTok.


A Mexican influencer, César Gastélum, was shot dead while livestreaming on a social media platform.


Gastélum was filming with two friends outside a fast‑food restaurant in Tres Ríos, a suburb of Culiacán, on a Tuesday evening when two men on a motorbike approached him and fired a close‑range shot. He was a popular comedian with a half‑million‑strong following.


The killings of online personalities are not a first in Mexico. A year earlier, 23‑year‑old Valeria Márquez was killed while livestreaming at a beauty salon. The pattern points to increasing security risks for public‑facing digital creators.


During the livestream, Gastélum and his friends wore bright orange coats and bags typically associated with delivery drivers. Local police initially mistook him for a delivery driver before being informed of his true identity.


Investigators have cordoned the surrounding area, collected cartridge casings and are analysing CCTV footage, but no arrests have yet been made. The men on the motorbike fled the scene, leaving the motive unclear.


It remains uncertain whether Gastélum had received threats prior to the shooting. On his Instagram, he frequently displayed travel snaps, night‑out photos, and posed beside luxury cars.


In a post, he was seen at the grave of Leobardo Aispuro, an influencer known as "El Gordo Peruci" who was murdered in December 2024 in a clash linked to the warring factions of the Sinaloa cartel. These events highlight the growing volatility in the state of Sinaloa.


Correction 05 August: This article has been amended to clarify that César Gastélum was livestreaming on an unspecified social media platform, not TikTok as originally reported.