Cesar Gastelum shot dead while livestreaming
MEXICO CITY – Mexican social media influencer Cesar Gastelum was shot and killed on Tuesday while livestreaming with friends outside a fast food restaurant in the northwestern city of Culiacan, local authorities said, reports BritPanorama.
Gastelum, who had nearly 600,000 followers on TikTok and gained popularity for his comedy videos, was streaming live when two individuals on a motorcycle, both wearing helmets, approached him and his friends.
Footage from the livestream, viewed by Reuters, shows the motorcyclist appearing to fire a gun directly at Gastelum.
A security official in Sinaloa state confirmed Gastelum’s death and noted that a significant security operation was underway in response to the incident.
This killing highlights the ongoing violence in Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa, which has been a hotspot for conflict among rival organized crime factions vying for territorial control.
The shooting is reminiscent of the May 2025 killing of Mexican beauty influencer Valeria Marquez, who was shot during a TikTok livestream at her workplace in Zapopan, Jalisco.
Marquez, aged 23, was killed when a man entered the salon and opened fire, according to prosecutors. Her death was subsequently investigated under femicide protocols.
In July, authorities in Jalisco announced the arrest of Ramon Angel Alvarez Ayala, known as “El R-1,” who is identified by Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch as the leader of a criminal cell affiliated with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
Alvarez Ayala has been linked to Marquez’s murder and is accused of ordering and financing the November 2025 assassination of Uruapan mayor Carlos Manzo.
