Mexican social media influencer César Gastélum, who had amassed more than 500,000 followers on TikTok, was shot dead while livestreaming outside a fast-food restaurant in the Tres Ríos district of Culiacán, northern Mexico. The attack occurred on Tuesday evening as Gastélum was filming with two friends when two men riding a motorcycleapproached, and one of them opened fire at close range before fleeing the scene.

Authorities said Gastélum and his companions were wearing bright orange jackets and delivery bags commonly associated with food delivery riders. The clothing initially led investigators to believe the victim was a delivery worker, but officials later confirmed his identity as the popular content creator, who was best known for producing comedy videos. Police sealed off the area while forensic teams collected cartridge casings and reviewed CCTV footage in a bid to identify the attackers.

No arrests have been made, and investigators said it remains unclear whether Gastélum had received threats before the fatal shooting. Beyond TikTok, he regularly shared photos of his travels, nightlife and luxury cars on Instagram. One of his recent posts showed him visiting the grave of fellow influencer Leobardo Aispuro, also known as “El Gordo Peruci,” who was shot dead in December 2024 in a killing police believed could be linked to the rivalry between factions of the Sinaloa cartel.

Gastélum’s death is the latest in a string of attacks targeting social media personalities in Mexico. In 2025, 23-year-old Valeria Márquez was also killed while livestreaming from a beauty salon. The latest incident comes as violence continues to escalate in Sinaloa, where clashes between the rival Los Chapitos and La Mayiza factions have intensified since their split in September 2024, fueling persistent insecurity across the region.