César Gastélum, a Mexican influencer with more than 500,000 TikTok followers, was shot dead while livestreaming outside a fast‑food restaurant in the Tres Ríos neighbourhood of Culiacán.
According to police, Gastélum and two friends were filming a casual vlog when a motorcycle approached and a rider fired a single burst at close range. The shot killed the influencer, who was wearing a bright orange coat and a delivery‑driver bag‑style jacket.
The incident echoes last year’s killing of 23‑year‑old beauty‑vlog influencer Valeria Márquez, who died while livestreaming from a salon. Both incidents highlight increasing violence in Sinaloa, especially after the violent split between the Los Chapitos and La Mayiza factions of the Sinaloa cartel.
Police and forensic teams have cordoned the area, examined cartridge casings and review CCTV footage from nearby cameras. No arrests have been made, and the assailants on the motorbike fled the scene.
It remains unclear whether Gastélum had received prior threats, though his Instagram posts frequently showcased luxury cars and nightlife.
The incident sparked an outpouring of grief online, with followers posting screenshots of the livestream, memes, and solidarity statements. Social‑media analytics show an immediate spike in the hashtag #CesarGastelum and related conversations.
