A young influencer in Mexico lost his life following a deadly attack on Tuesday (4/8) outside a restaurant in the city of Culiacán, in the state of Sinaloa, in the northwest of the country. The attack was captured on a live social media stream, causing widespread shock.
Read also: Mexico: Cartel boss ordered the murder of 23-year-old influencer Valeria Márquez because she broke up with his son — the horrific crime was broadcast live (Video)
Gunmen on a motorcycle executed him at point-blank range
The victim has been identified as César Gastélum, a well-known influencer who was livestreaming a meetup with two friends on social media. The group had dressed up in food delivery uniforms as part of a challenge and were standing outside a local restaurant. At that moment, two unknown individuals riding a motorcycle and wearing helmets pulled up beside them. One of the two drew a pistol and shot the young influencer point-blank in the head. The attackers then fled the scene.
The livestream was immediately cut by the platform and the video was taken down, however, it was later used by authorities to identify the victim — as initial reports had described the incident as the murder of a delivery worker. According to reports from the Mexican press, 25-year-old Gastélum was an influencer who posted food and gastronomy-related content on social media.
Motive behind the murder remains unknown
The motive behind the killing remains unknown at this time. Police officers and forensic investigators rushed to the scene, collecting evidence and gathering clues. Notably, the murder of the young influencer took place near the state prosecutor’s office in Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa. According to local media reports, the region has been gripped for the past two years by an undeclared war between factions of the notorious Sinaloa drug cartel, with at least 9 influencer murders recorded — victims believed to have had ties to criminal networks.
The incident has reignited memories of the high-profile murder of a well-known influencer in 2025, which was also broadcast live. Valeria Márquez, 23, was killed inside the beauty salon where she worked in Zapopan, in the state of Jalisco. It was announced last July that authorities had arrested the leader of a criminal cell linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The suspect, Ramón Ángel Álvarez Ayala — also known by the alias “El R-1” — is believed to be involved in both the murder of influencer Márquez and the killing of the mayor of Uruapan, Carlos Manzo, a case that shocked the entire country.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated on Wednesday (5/8) that an investigation is already underway to apprehend those responsible for the murder of the 25-year-old influencer and to determine the motive behind the deadly attack.
Mexican Influencer Shot Dead During Livestream in Violence-Plagued Culiacán
Mexican influencer Cesar Gastelum was shot dead on Aug. 4 while livestreaming with friends outside a fast-food restaurant in Culiacan, northwestern Mexico. pic.twitter.com/Ycy6VoXnHm
— The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) August 6, 2026
