César Gastélum expressed concern about approaching motorcyclists shortly before a gunman opened fire and fled, according to published reports.
CULIACÁN, Mexico — Mexican social media influencer César Gastélum was shot and killed while livestreaming outside a fast-food restaurant in Culiacán after telling friends that people approaching on a motorcycle frightened him, authorities and published reports said.
The attack occurred Tuesday night in the Tres Ríos area of Culiacán, the capital of the northwestern state of Sinaloa. Gastélum was recording a social media skit with two friends near the restaurant’s drive-thru when two people arrived on a motorcycle. One of them opened fire before both fled, according to video reviewed by news organizations and information released by authorities.
Gastélum, who was reported to be 25, had more than 600,000 TikTok followers and posted comedy, lifestyle and food-related content. The livestream stopped after the shooting and was later removed, although copies of the footage circulated widely across social media. Authorities confirmed his identity after initially describing the person killed as a delivery worker.
Shortly before the attack, one of Gastélum’s companions called attention to the motorcycle. Gastélum replied in Spanish that the men frightened him, according to reports that reviewed the recording. The video then showed the motorcycle pulling near the group. The precise amount of time between his comment and the shooting was not immediately clear.
Gastélum and his friends were dressed as food delivery workers for the video. Neither of the two companions was reported injured. The attack happened in a busy commercial area near the Sinaloa state prosecutor’s office, prompting a response from police, soldiers and forensic personnel.
Authorities have not announced an arrest or publicly identified either person on the motorcycle. Investigators also have not established a motive. Mexico’s federal Security Cabinet said one line of inquiry involves Gastélum’s social media posts, some of which allegedly referred to a faction of a criminal organization.
That statement did not establish that Gastélum belonged to a criminal group or that his online activity caused his death. Officials have released no evidence identifying who ordered or carried out the attack. Investigators are reviewing several possibilities as they examine his accounts and the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed the killing during a news conference and said authorities should determine what happened and bring both the direct attackers and any person who planned the crime to justice. She did not announce a suspect or provide additional evidence about the motive.
The killing occurred as rival factions of the Sinaloa cartel continue a violent conflict in the state. Culiacán has faced repeated shootings, disappearances and other attacks during the struggle. Social media creators have also become targets, though the circumstances and suspected motives have varied from case to case.
At least nine content creators have been killed in Sinaloa and nearby areas since September 2024, according to an El País review. Some had posted material interpreted as supporting criminal figures or factions, while others appeared on threatening lists circulated online. Many of those cases remain unresolved, and unverified claims frequently spread through social media channels after such attacks.
Gastélum’s death also drew comparisons to the May 2025 killing of Mexican beauty influencer Valeria Márquez. Márquez was shot inside her salon in Jalisco while broadcasting live. The cases occurred in different states, and authorities have not announced evidence linking them.
The continued circulation of footage from Gastélum’s killing has increased public attention to the case, but investigators have released limited details. Officials had not announced arrests or provided a confirmed motive as of Thursday, and the investigation remained active.
Author note: Last updated August 6, 2026.