Mexican influencer shot dead during livestream in Sinaloa
SCMP · 2 SOURCESabout 23 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
César Gastélum, a Mexican TikTok influencer with more than 650,000 followers, was killed during a livestream on Tuesday night in Culiacan, Sinaloa, according to authorities . Footage reviewed by media showed him laughing with two other men in a KFC parking lot before two men on a motorcycle approached and one shot him, after which the attackers escaped . Investigators said Gastélum had posted videos that appeared to allude to a faction of a criminal group, suggesting a possible cartel-related motive, though officials did not identify any specific organization . The killing occurred near the local prosecutor’s office during rush hour and drew a public response from President Claudia Sheinbaum, who demanded arrests .
Key Points
- Authorities said Gastélum was killed on Tuesday night in Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa, a state long affected by cartel violence .
- Video reviewed by media showed two men arriving on a motorcycle at a Kentucky Fried Chicken parking lot before one gunman opened fire .
- The attackers fled immediately after the shooting, which took place only blocks from the local prosecutor’s office during rush hour .
- Mexico’s Security Cabinet and local prosecutors said Gastélum had posted videos that alluded to a faction of a criminal group .
- Gastélum posted comedy clips and music-backed content, called himself “bélico” at times, and had over 650,000 TikTok followers .
Why It Matters
The killing underscores how cartel-linked violence in Mexico can spill into public spaces and digital culture, affecting influencers whose online personas may intersect with criminal subcultures . It also highlights the climate of insecurity in Sinaloa, where rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel have left visible and symbolic marks on killings in recent years .