Mexican TikTok Influencer Shot Dead While Livestreaming

Mexican TikTok influencer César Gastélum was shot dead while livestreaming as gunmen attacked outside a fast-food restaurant in Culiacán. The attack happened Tuesday evening in the Tres Ríos district, where Gastélum was filming with two friends. Authorities said two men arrived on a motorcycle and that one shot him at close range before fleeing. Gastélum had more than 500,000 TikTok followers and was known for comedy content. Local reporting noted that he and his companions wore bright orange jackets and carried delivery bags commonly associated with food riders, leading police briefly to suspect he was a delivery worker until investigators confirmed his identity. Police secured the area, collected spent casings and reviewed CCTV. No arrests were made, and authorities have not disclosed a motive. The killing follows other attacks on social media figures, including the December 2024 death of influencer Leobardo Aispuro (“El Gordo Peruci”), which police said may relate to Sinaloa cartel faction rivalries amid intensified violence since September 2024.