Story by Lillian Gissen
exican influencer César Gastélum has died after he was shot in the middle of a livestream.
Gastélum, who was believed to be 24 years old, had raked in over 614,000 followers on TikTok thanks to his comedy videos and skits.
He was doing a livestream outside of a fast food restaurant in Culiacán on Tuesday with some friends when two people on a motorcycle approached the group, according to Reuters.
The outlet said the driver ‘appeared to fire a gun directly at Gastélum’ after reviewing a recording of the livestream.
A security official in Sinaloa state confirmed to the publication that Gastélum had passed away from the shooting.
The investigation is still underway and the motive for the shooting is unclear.
Violence has been rising in Sinaloa over the last few years due to an ongoing rivalry between two factions of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the world’s largest drug trafficking groups, per Crisisgroup.org.
‘For close to two years, violence has raged throughout the Mexican state of Sinaloa,’ the organization said in a recent report.
Gastélum had raked in over 614,000 followers on TikTok thanks to his comedy videos and skits
‘After decades at the helm of global drug trafficking, the state’s eponymous cartel has broken up into warring factions.
‘Fighting between two of them erupted in September 2024 … The after-effects have been harrowing: thousands of people have been killed, disappeared or displaced.’
The US government urges Americans to not travel to Sinaloa ‘due to terrorism and crime.’
‘There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations,’ the US Department of State has said.
Gastélum’s last post was shared three days prior and features him showing off his outfit while enjoying a night out with a female friend.
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‘The ultimate preppy date,’ he captioned it in Spanish.
After the shooting on the livestream, fans took to the comment section of the video to share their horror and shock.
Friends and loved ones also posted touching messages for the social media star.
The investigation is still underway and the motive for the shooting is unclear
He was doing a livestream outside of a fast food restaurant in Culiacán on Tuesday with some friends when two people on a motorcycle approached the group, according to Reuters
‘Did I just watch a video of him getting shot? [Is] it real? It looks like [it] a lot,’ wrote one viewer.
‘I watched the video, poor thing,’ another commented.
‘Who comes after watching the [livestream]?’ asked someone else, along with a crying emoji.
‘Rest in peace old man, words are not enough but [I’m] grateful for everything you have done and happy to have seen [you] fulfill all your dreams,’ read a fourth comment.
‘We make infinite laughs with your videos but today it’s time to thank you with tears my old man, R.I.P.’
‘Cesar, I still don’t believe it I’m in shock. I imagined seeing you again, thanks for the night outings, rest in peace,’ a fifth said.
