Mexican TikTok influencer Cesar Gastelum shot to death during livestream allegedly over posts about cartel
Cesar Gastelum, a Mexican social media influencer, was killed during a livestream believed to be linked to his posts about a criminal group. This incident underscores the dangers faced by influencers in areas plagued by drug cartel violence.
Mexican authorities believe Cesar Gastelum, a popular social media influencer with over 600,000 TikTok followers, was killed during a livestream in Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa state. The killing allegedly occurred in retaliation for posts about a criminal group. Gastelum, along with two friends, was dressed as food delivery workers during the livestream when two people on a motorcycle approached them.
The motorcycle contained two helmeted individuals who shot Gastelum. Culiacán is known for its involvement in narco-culture and criminal gangs, including the Sinaloa Cartel. Other influencers have also been targeted due to their social media posts, such as Valeria Marquez, who was murdered in May 2025 after a livestream, reportedly due to her ex-boyfriend being the son of a powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader.
The recent decline in intentional homicides in Mexico, despite the ongoing violent conflict between drug factions, has resulted in a 22.7% decrease in the overall homicide rate compared to the previous year.
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