Mexican Influencer César Gastélum Shot Dead During TikTok Livestream

Mexican social media influencer César Gastélum was shot dead while livestreaming from the northwestern state of Sinaloa, in what authorities believe may be a killing linked to organised crime and cartel-related activity.

The attack took place on Tuesday evening in Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa, when Gastélum was livestreaming with two other men in the parking lot of a Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet. According to videos circulating online, two assailants arrived on a motorcycle before one of them opened fire on the influencer at close range. The attackers fled immediately after the shooting.

The incident occurred just a few blocks from the local prosecutor's office during peak evening traffic, prompting an investigation by Mexican authorities. While no criminal group has been officially blamed, Mexico's Security Cabinet and local prosecutors said preliminary findings suggest Gastélum had posted videos that "alluded to a faction of a criminal group." Investigators believe this could be a possible motive behind the murder, although they stressed that the investigation remains ongoing.

Gastélum had amassed more than 650,000 followers on TikTok, with a larger audience across Instagram and other social media platforms. He was known for comedy videos and content featuring Mexican regional music. In some posts, he described himself as "bélico," a slang term often associated with Mexico's cartel subculture and organised crime imagery.

President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the killing, saying those responsible "must be arrested" and that authorities would determine the exact motive behind the crime.

The murder comes amid continuing violence in Sinaloa, where rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel Los Chapitos and Los Mayos have been engaged in a prolonged turf war. Analysts say influencers have increasingly become targets because some are perceived to have links to criminal organisations, produce content promoting cartel culture, spread messages on behalf of gangs, or become associated with rival factions.

Gastélum's killing is the second fatal attack on a content creator during a livestream in just over a year. In May 2025, beauty influencer Valeria Márquez was shot dead while broadcasting live from a beauty salon in the western Mexican state of Jalisco, highlighting the growing risks faced by online personalities in regions affected by organised crime.