Mexican social media influencer César Gastélum has been shot dead while livestreaming with friends outside a fast food restaurant in the city of Culiacán, according to reports by the BBC and Punch Newspapers.

The attack happened on Tuesday evening in the Tres Ríos area when two men on a motorcycle approached the group. One of the assailants allegedly opened fire at close range, killing Gastélum at the scene.

Gastélum, who had more than 500,000 TikTok followers, was widely known for posting comedy videos. Local media reported that he and his friends were wearing bright orange jackets and delivery bags, leading police to initially believe the victim was a delivery rider before confirming his identity.

Security personnel and forensic investigators cordoned off the area and collected spent cartridge casings while reviewing CCTV footage as part of the investigation. The gunmen escaped on the motorcycle, and no arrests had been announced at the time of reporting.

Authorities have not said whether Gastélum had received threats before the fatal attack.

On Instagram, Gastélum regularly shared images of his travels, luxury cars and social life. One of his posts showed him visiting the grave of fellow influencer Leobardo Aispuro, popularly known as “El Gordo Peruci,” who was shot dead in December 2024 in a killing police believed could be linked to a rivalry between factions of the Sinaloa cartel.

Gastélum’s death is the latest in a series of attacks targeting Mexican social media personalities. In 2025, 23-year-old influencer Valeria Márquez was also shot and killed while livestreaming from a beauty salon on TikTok.

The killing comes as violence continues to escalate in Sinaloa State, where rival Los Chapitos and La Mayiza factions of the Sinaloa cartel have been engaged in intense clashes since September 2024.