TikTok influencer killed while livestreaming in Culiacan, Mexico

A 25-year-old Mexican social-media influencer was shot dead while streaming live outside a restaurant in Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa state. Cesar Gastelum, who had amassed more than 600,000 followers on TikTok, was broadcasting with two friends as part of a challenge in which they dressed as food-delivery workers.

According to video captured by the livestream, a motorcycle pulled up beside the group and the rider opened fire, striking Gastelum. Local police confirmed his death and later identified him as the victim, after initially reporting the incident as the killing of a delivery worker.

The livestream was halted and subsequently removed by the platform, though recordings of the attack continued to circulate online. Police and soldiers secured the busy shopping plaza near the state prosecutor’s office, and forensic teams collected evidence and removed the body.

Authorities noted that the district has experienced heightened cartel-related violence in recent years, with several influencers reportedly linked to criminal groups having been killed. The incident follows previous high-profile murders of Mexican influencers, including the 2024 killing of Valeria Marquez during a TikTok livestream.

"The investigation is ongoing, and we are deploying additional security forces to ensure public safety," a police spokesperson said.