Mexican social media influencer Cesar Gastelum, known for his comedy videos and livestreams, was shot and killed while broadcasting live outside a fast-food restaurant in Culiacán, authorities confirmed on Tuesday, writes News Nation.
Gastelum, who had nearly 600,000 followers on TikTok, was livestreaming with friends when the attack occurred.
According to local authorities and footage reviewed by Reuters, two men arrived on a motorcycle, both wearing helmets.
The motorcycle driver allegedly opened fire directly at Gastelum before fleeing the scene.
A security official in the northwestern state of Sinaloa confirmed the influencer’s death and said authorities had launched a major security operation to locate those responsible.
The killing comes amid ongoing violence in Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa, where rival organised crime groups have been engaged in a prolonged struggle for territorial control.
The city has experienced a sharp rise in violent incidents linked to clashes between criminal factions.
Gastelum’s death has drawn comparisons to the 2025 killing of Mexican beauty influencer Valeria Márquez, who was also murdered while livestreaming on TikTok.
Márquez, 23, was shot dead in May 2025 while working at a beauty salon in Zapopan, in the western state of Jalisco.
Prosecutors said a gunman entered the salon and opened fire during her livestream. Authorities investigated her death under Mexico’s femicide protocols.
In July this year, Mexican authorities announced the arrest of Ramón Ángel Álvarez Ayala, also known as “El R-1,” in Jalisco.
Security Minister Omar García Harfuch identified him as the leader of a criminal cell linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
Authorities have alleged that Álvarez Ayala ordered and financed Márquez’s murder and was also connected to the November 2025 killing of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo.
While investigators have not publicly linked Gastelum’s killing to any criminal organisation or established a motive, the latest attack highlights the growing security risks faced by public figures and content creators in regions affected by organised crime.
Officials have not released details about potential suspects or arrests in the case, and the investigation remains ongoing.
