Suspect arrested for allegedly killing influencer on livestream
Cesar Gastelum was dressed as a food delivery worker and taking part in a social media challenge along with two friends when he was shot dead.
Mexican authorities have arrested a man accused of killing influencer Cesar Gastelum during a live stream in Culiacan on August 4. Gastelum, who had over 500,000 TikTok followers, was dressed as a food delivery worker and participating in a social media challenge when a motorcycle approached him. Footage of the incident, viewed by Reuters, showed the motorcycle's driver firing a gun directly at Gastelum.
The alleged killer was later apprehended in Puebla state, and three firearms, ammunition, and vehicles were seized. Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch stated that the killing was related to Gastelum's social media posts, which hinted at affiliation with a criminal group faction. This incident is part of an ongoing war between two main factions of the Sinaloa Cartel, leaving many dead or missing in the northwestern state.
Influencers have been targeted in Sinaloa before, with at least a dozen killed in recent years, often due to disputes between criminal gangs. The Sinaloa Cartel was founded by Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, currently imprisoned in the United States.
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