TikTok influencer César Gastélum killed during live stream in Culiacán

César Gastélum, a Mexican TikTok influencer with more than 600,000 followers, was shot dead on Tuesday while broadcasting live in front of a fast-food restaurant in Culiacán, authorities said. Video reviewed by Reuters shows two helmeted men on a motorcycle approaching him before the shooting. A security official from Sinaloa confirmed the death and said a major security operation had been launched.

Mexico's Federal Security Cabinet announced that investigators are examining whether the attack was connected to social-media posts in which Gastélum referenced a criminal-group faction. Federal prosecutors and Sinaloa officials are reviewing surveillance footage and other evidence to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.

President Claudia Sheinbaum said the investigation aims to arrest the shooters and any mastermind behind the homicide. "The actual perpetrators – and, if applicable, the mastermind – must be arrested, and the reason behind this tragic homicide must be uncovered," she told reporters.

The killing occurs amid ongoing violence between rival Sinaloa Cartel factions, Los Mayos and Los Chapitos, which have been clashing since September 2024. The conflict has involved firearms, armored vehicles and drones, raising security concerns across the state.

Gastélum's death follows a similar incident in May 2025, when beauty influencer Valeria Márquez was killed during a TikTok livestream in Zapopan. Authorities later linked that murder to a criminal cell tied to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.