In brief
Valeria Marquez, 23, was shot in her beauty salon in Guadalajara while streaming on TikTok, which has drawn attention to the rampant femicide issues in the country.
In a shocking incident that highlights the alarming reality of gender-based violence in Mexico, 23-year-old influencer Valeria Marquez was killed during a live TikTok broadcast. The state prosecutor's office reports that a gunman entered her salon in Zapopan and opened fire, ending her stream while she was engaging with her audience. Marquez, who had around 200,000 followers across TikTok and Instagram, was known for her beauty content.The motive for the attack remains unclear, but authorities are treating it as a femicide—a term used to describe the killing of women based on their gender. This classification is particularly relevant in Mexico, where the United Nations has reported that ten women or girls are murdered daily, often at the hands of intimate partners or family members.Witness accounts indicate that the assailant approached Marquez under the pretense of delivering a gift before the fatal attack occurred. The incident took place around 6:30 PM local time (12:30 GMT), with police confirming her death upon arrival at the scene. The local mayor, Juan José Frangie, noted that there was no previous record of threats made against Marquez to the authorities, expressing that femicide is a critical issue that needs addressing. The investigation is ongoing, with forensic experts looking into the circumstances surrounding the shooting as reactions come in from her fans and the broader community, who have expressed their horror over the tragedy.
