Mexican social media influencer César Gastélum has been killed in a shooting while livestreaming outside a fast food restaurant in Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa State.
According to the BBC, Gastélum was recording a video with two friends in the Tres Ríos district on Tuesday evening when two men arrived on a motorcycle and one of them opened fire at close range.
The content creator, who had more than 500,000 followers on TikTok, was widely known for posting comedy videos.
Local media reported that Gastélum and his friends were wearing bright orange jackets and carrying bags commonly associated with delivery riders. Police initially believed the victim was a delivery worker before later confirming his identity.
Security personnel and forensic investigators subsequently sealed off the area and began examining spent cartridge casings and reviewing CCTV footage as part of the investigation.
The gunmen escaped on the motorcycle, and no arrests had been announced at the time of reporting.
Authorities have not said whether Gastélum had received any threats before the attack.
On Instagram, Gastélum often posted pictures of his travels, social activities and luxury vehicles.
One of his posts showed him visiting the graveside of fellow influencer Leobardo Aispuro, known as “El Gordo Peruci,” who was shot dead in December 2024 in a case police believed could be connected to the rivalry between two factions of the Sinaloa cartel.
Gastélum’s killing adds to a growing number of attacks targeting social media personalities in Mexico.
In 2025, 23-year-old influencer Valeria Márquez was also shot dead while livestreaming from a beauty salon on TikTok.
The latest killing comes amid worsening violence in Sinaloa State, where clashes between the rival Los Chapitos and La Mayiza factions of the Sinaloa cartel have escalated since September 2024.
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