Mexican social media influencer Cesar Gastelum, who had nearly 600,000 followers on TikTok, was shot and killed on Tuesday, August 5th, 2026, while livestreaming with friends outside a fast food restaurant in Culiacan, in the northwestern state of Sinaloa, local authorities said.
Gastelum was broadcasting live with two friends, reportedly dressed as delivery drivers as part of a video challenge. During the livestream, a motorcycle carrying two people pulled up beside them, and footage appeared to show the motorcycle driver shooting Gastelum directly in the head. Although the video was later removed from the platform, parts of it continued to circulate online.
A security official in Sinaloa confirmed Gastelum's death and stated that a major security operation was underway. Local media reported that Gastelum was around 25 years old, with his identity confirmed through video and witness accounts.
Local press have noted that several influencers, some allegedly linked to criminal groups, have been killed in Sinaloa in recent years. This incident echoes the May 2025 killing of beauty influencer Valeria Marquez, 23, who was shot while livestreaming on TikTok at the salon where she worked in Zapopan, in Mexico’s western state of Jalisco.
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