Mexican influencer Cesar Gastelum killed during social media broadcast

Mexican social media influencer Cesar Gastelum (Cezar) was killed on Tuesday during a live broadcast he was doing with friends outside a fast food restaurant in the northwestern city of Culiacan, local authorities said.

Gastelum, who had about 600.000 followers on TikTok and was known for his humorous videos, was livestreaming outside a fast food restaurant when he was approached by two people on a motorcycle, both wearing helmets.

In the footage of the broadcast, which was seen by the British news agency Reuters, the motorcycle rider shot directly at Gastelum.

A security official in the state of Sinaloa confirmed Gastelum's death and said a major security operation was underway.

The killing came amid ongoing violence in Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa, which has been at the center of a conflict between rival organized crime factions fighting for control of the market.

The shooting also brought to mind the murder of Mexican influencer Valeria Marquez in May 2025, who was killed during a TikTok broadcast at the salon where she worked in Zapopan, in the western state of Jalisco.

A man entered the salon and shot her, causing fatal injuries.