Popular social media influencer shot dead during livestream outside restaurant in Mexico
Updated on: August 5, 2026 / 3:19 PM EDT / CBS/AFP
TL;DR
- Mexican influencer Cesar Gastelum was shot and killed while livestreaming on social media.
- The attack occurred outside a restaurant in Sinaloa, an area known for cartel violence.
- Gastelum, who had over 600,000 TikTok followers, was dressed as a delivery worker for a challenge.
- Video captured a motorcycle rider appearing to shoot Gastelum.
- Authorities are investigating whether the motive was retaliation for social media posts about a criminal group.
- Several other influencers have been killed in Sinaloa in recent years, some allegedly linked to criminal gangs.
- A similar incident occurred last year when influencer Valeria Marquez was shot dead during a TikTok livestream.