Mexico influencer César Gastélum shot dead during livestream in cartel-hit Sinaloa

Mexicocity,UPDATED: Aug 6, 2026 02:56 IST

A social media influencer was shot dead during a livestream in Mexico, in a killing that authorities said has again highlighted violence targeting online personalities in the country. Csar Gastlum was killed on Tuesday night in Culiacn, the capital of the northwestern state of Sinaloa, and officials indicated the attack appeared to be linked to cartel violence, though no group was named.

Mexico's Security Cabinet and local prosecutors said an investigation was under way and that Gastlum had posted some videos in which he "alluded to a faction of a criminal group". President Claudia Sheinbaum said those responsible must be caught and the reason for the killing must be established.

A video of the attack shows Gastlum laughing with two other men in the parking lot of a Kentucky Fried Chicken when two men arrive on a motorcycle. One of them gets off, pulls out a gun and shoots him before the attackers flee. The shooting took place during rush hour, just blocks from the local prosecutor's office.

Speaking to journalists at her morning press conference on Wednesday, Sheinbaum said: "The perpetrators must be arrested." She added, "We must find out why this deplorable homicide occurred." On Wednesday, candles were lit on the pavement where Gastlum was killed, and messages saying "rest in peace" were posted on his social media accounts.

Gastlum had more than 650,000 followers on TikTok, along with more followers on Instagram and other platforms. He regularly posted comedy videos and content set to Mexican regional music. At times, he referred to himself as "blico", a term used in some subcultures in Mexico to suggest a connection to cartel culture.

Sinaloa has in recent years been hit by fighting between two factions of the Sinaloa Cartel. At the height of the violence, bodies were left across the city marked with a faction's signature. One faction, Los Chapitos, would leave a pizza or a pizza box on a body, while the other, Los Mayos, would leave a sombrero. It had become dangerous to wear such hats in Culiacn because they could be seen as a sign of allegiance to one side. On Tuesday night, Gastlum was filmed wearing a white sombrero.

The killing was the second time in a little over a year that a content creator was fatally shot by gunmen during a livestream. In May 2025, 23-year-old beauty influencer Valeria Mrquez was shot dead while on a TikTok livestream at a beauty salon in the central Mexican state of Jalisco.

Gastlum's death comes as Mexico's government faces growing pressure from the Trump administration to crack down on cartel violence. It also reflects a wider pattern of criminal groups targeting influencers, especially in states such as Sinaloa and Jalisco, where organised crime has a strong presence.

Mexican security analyst David Saucedo said influencers are threatened or killed for different reasons. In some cases, he said, they may have links to one criminal faction in a contested area, produce social media content for them, or have romantic relationships with cartel members. In other cases, they may launder money for cartels or share information in a way similar to a journalist. "Cartels are interested in dictating and controlling ... the regions where they operate," Saucedo said, adding that the aim is to turn them "into channels for disseminating criminal messages". The killing of Gastlum has now added to concerns over how such groups target public figures online in violence-hit parts of Mexico.

With PTI Inputs

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