César Gastélum, a Mexican influencer with over half a million TikTok followers, was shot dead while livestreaming on Tuesday evening, August 5th, 2026. Gastélum was filming with two friends outside a fast food restaurant in Tres Ríos, a neighborhood in the northern city of Culiacán, when two men on a motorbike approached and one shot him at close range.

Gastélum was known for uploading comedy and lifestyle videos. During the livestream, he and his friends wore bright orange coats and bags commonly used by delivery drivers. Local media reported that their outfits initially led police to believe the victim was a delivery driver, but officials were later informed of his true identity.

Police and forensic teams have cordoned off the area and are investigating the scene, examining cartridge casings and CCTV footage for clues.

This incident is not isolated; last year, 23-year-old influencer Valeria Márquez was also shot dead while livestreaming on TikTok at a beauty salon in Mexico.

Violence in the state of Sinaloa, where Culiacán is the capital, has escalated since September 2024 following a fallout between two warring factions of the Sinaloa cartel, Los Chapitos and La Mayiza. Police have linked previous killings, including that of Aispuro in December 2024, to this cartel rivalry.

Sources