Mexican social media influencer César Gastélum has been shot dead while livestreaming outside a fast food restaurant in Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa State, in the latest attack targeting online personalities in the country.
According to the BBC, the incident occurred on Tuesday evening in the Tres Ríos district when Gastélum was filming a live video with two friends. Two men riding a motorcycle reportedly approached the group, and one of the attackers opened fire at close range before fleeing the scene.
Gastélum, who had amassed more than 500,000 followers on TikTok, was widely known for posting comedy skits and entertaining content on the platform.
Initial reports suggested the victim was a food delivery rider because he and his companions were wearing bright orange jackets and carrying delivery-style backpacks. However, police later confirmed that the deceased was the popular content creator.
Security personnel immediately secured the area while forensic investigators collected spent shell casings and reviewed CCTV footage as part of efforts to identify the attackers.
The gunmen escaped on the motorcycle, and authorities had not announced any arrests as of Wednesday. Investigators have also not revealed whether Gastélum had received threats before the fatal shooting.
Outside his comedy content, Gastélum regularly shared photos and videos of his travels, social activities and luxury vehicles on Instagram.
One of his earlier posts showed him paying tribute at the graveside of fellow influencer Leobardo Aispuro, popularly known as "El Gordo Peruci," who was killed in December 2024. Police at the time linked Aispuro's death to the violent rivalry between two factions of the Sinaloa cartel.
Gastélum's killing adds to a growing list of attacks on social media influencers in Mexico. In 2025, 23-year-old influencer Valeria Márquez was also shot dead while livestreaming from a beauty salon on TikTok.
The latest incident comes as violence continues to escalate across Sinaloa State, where fierce clashes between the Los Chapitos and La Mayiza factions of the Sinaloa cartel have persisted since September 2024.
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