Mexican social media influencer César Gastélum has been shot dead while livestreaming on TikTok after gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire on him outside a fast-food restaurant in Culiacán, the capital of Mexico’s Sinaloa state.
The attack happened on Tuesday evening in the Tres Ríos district, where Gastélum was filming with two friends.
According to authorities, two men arrived on a motorcycle and one of them shot the influencer at close range before both suspects fled the scene.
Gastélum, who had more than 500,000 followers on TikTok, was widely known for his comedy videos and entertaining online content.
Local media reported that he and his companions were wearing bright orange jackets and delivery bags commonly used by food delivery riders during the livestream.
The outfit initially led investigators to believe the victim was a delivery worker before police later confirmed his identity.
Security operatives and forensic investigators sealed off the area,ug recovering spent cartridge casings and reviewing CCTV footage as part of ongoing efforts to identify the attackers..
No arrests have been made, while authorities say the motive for the killing remains unknown and have not disclosed whether Gastélum had received threats before the attack.
Beyond his comedy skits, Gastélum regularly shared photos of his travels, social activities and luxury cars on Instagram.
One of his recent posts showed him visiting the grave of fellow influencer Leobardo Aispuro, popularly known as “El Gordo Peruci,” who was shot dead in December 2024 in a case police linked to rivalry between factions of the Sinaloa cartel.
Gastélum’s killing is the latest in a growing number of attacks targeting social media personalities in Mexico.
Last year, 23-year-old influencer Valeria Márquez was also shot dead while livestreaming on TikTok from a beauty salon.
The latest incident comes as violence continues to escalate across Sinaloa, where rival factions of the Sinaloa cartel—Los Chapitos and La Mayiza—have been engaged in deadly clashes since their split in September 2024, fuelling persistent insecurity across the region.
