TikTok influencer killed in livestream in Sinaloa
Cesar Gastelum, a TikTok creator with 650,000 followers, was shot dead during a livestream in Culiacan, Sinaloa, prompting a statement from President Claudia Sheinbaum and an ongoing police investigation.
A 22-year-old Mexican TikTok influencer was fatally shot while broadcasting a livestream in Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa state, on Tuesday. The incident occurred in the parking lot of a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant near the local prosecutor’s office, where Gastelum was seated with two other men. A motorcycle arrived, and a gun was fired, killing Gastelum before the assailants fled, according to video captured by the Associated Press.
Authorities said the victim, identified as Cesar Gastelum, had previously posted videos that referenced “belico,” a term associated with cartel subculture, and that some of his content appeared to allude to a criminal faction. Mexico’s security cabinet and local prosecutors confirmed an investigation is underway.
President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed reporters on Wednesday, saying, "We must find out why this homicide occurred. Perpetrators must be arrested."
Sinaloa has experienced ongoing violence between rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel, Los Mayos and Los Chapitos, which has left numerous bodies marked with gang symbols across the city.
The killing follows a similar livestream murder in May 2025, when beauty influencer Valeria Marquez was shot in Jalisco. The U.S. Treasury later sanctioned five leaders of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, including its head Nemesio Rubén "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes, and offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his capture.