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A gunman kills a Mexican social media influencer during a livestream
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- Social media influencer César Gastélum was fatally shot during a livestream in Culiacan, Sinaloa, highlighting ongoing violence against online personalities in Mexico linked to cartel activity.
- The attack occurred near the local prosecutor’s office, with authorities suggesting Gastélum’s content may have referenced a criminal faction, prompting an ongoing investigation.
- Gastélum, known for comedy videos and regional music content, had over 650,000 TikTok followers and occasionally used imagery associated with cartel culture, such as wearing a white sombrero.
- This incident follows a similar livestream killing of beauty influencer Valeria Márquez in Jalisco in 2025, reflecting a troubling trend of cartel-related violence targeting influencers.
- Experts note that cartels use influencers to control regional narratives and may target them for various reasons, including perceived affiliations, money laundering, or spreading cartel messages.
