César Gastélum, a Mexican internet personality who shared comedy videos on TikTok and boasted more than 500,000 followers, was tragically killed while livestreaming outside a fast‑food restaurant in the northern city of Culiacán, on Tuesday evening.
While the actor and two friends were broadcasting from a public area, two men on a motorcycle approached and fired a close‑range shot that fatally wounded Gastélum. The public, wearing bright orange coats and typical delivery‑driver bags, initially misled police who thought the victim was a delivery personnel, until the influencer’s identity was confirmed.
The murder comes amid a rise in violent confrontations linked to the war between the Los Chapitos and La Mayiza factions of the Sinaloa cartel, which has left the region extremely dangerous for residents and visitors alike. This is not the first time a digital creator has been targeted in the country; last year, 23‑year‑old Valeria Márquez was also shot dead during a livestream.
Police and forensic teams have cordoned off the scene to examine cartridge casings and gather CCTV footage. No arrests have yet been made, and suspects fled on a motorbike. Authorities have not yet determined whether the influencer had received any threats.
Gastélum’s online presence often featured travel adventures and luxury car displays, and he was previously photographed at the gravesite of fellow influencer "El Gordo Peruci" (Leobardo Aispuro), who was murdered earlier this year in a possible cartel‑related killing.
