Rabat – Mexican TikTok creator Cesar Gastelum was shot and killed while livestreaming with friends outside a fast-food restaurant in the northern city of Culiacan on Tuesday, in the latest high-profile killing of a social media influencer in Mexico.
Gastelum, who had nearly 600,000 followers on TikTok and was best known for his comedy vidéos, was broadcasting live with two friends when two men wearing motorcycle helmets approached on a motorbike.
Local authorities confirmed Gastelum’s death and launched a major security operation. Police and forensic investigators fenced off the area, collecting evidence and reviewing CCTV footage as part of the investigation.
No arrests have been announced, and authorities have not identified a motive or said whether the influencer had received threats before the attack.
Initial reports mistakenly identified the victim as a food delivery worker because Gastelum and his friends were wearing bright orange jackets and backpacks commonly used by delivery workers as part of a social media challenge.
The shooting took place in Tres Rios, a busy commercial district of Culiacan located near the Sinaloa state prosecutor’s office, where soldiers and police were deployed following the attack.
Gastelum frequently shared comedy sketches, livestreams, and glimpses of his daily life on social media.
One of his posts showed him visiting the grave of fellow influencer Leobardo Aispuro, known online as “El Gordo Peruci,” who was killed in 2024 in a case authorities linked to violence between rival criminal groups.
His killing has drawn comparisons to the 2025 murder of Mexican beauty influencer Valeria Marquez, who was also shot during a TikTok livestream while at the salon where she worked. Mexican authorities announced last month the arrest of a suspect allegedly connected to that case.
Gastelum’s death comes as violence continues to grip Sinaloa, where rival factions of the powerful Sinaloa Cartel have been engaged in a prolonged internal conflict.
The state capital, Culiacan, has experienced repeated outbreaks of violence since divisions emerged between the Los Chapitos and La Mayiza factions, contributing to a broader deterioration of security in the region.
