Mexican influencer Cesar Gastelum was shot dead during a live broadcast outside a KFC restaurant in Culiacan, Mexico, on Monday evening. The attack occurred around 8:14pm while he was livestreaming with two friends.
Attack captured on livestream
Footage from the livestream showed two men arriving at the drive-thru exit on a white, red and black Honda motorcycle. One of the attackers approached Gastelum and shot him in the head with a handgun. Both attackers, wearing motorcycle helmets, fled the scene on the bike.
Gastelum's two companions, who were helping him record the broadcast, were unharmed but left shaken by the incident. Emergency services and security forces responded to the scene, but Gastelum was pronounced dead.
Investigation underway
Investigators from the Sinaloa State Prosecutor’s Office, state police, and the Mexican Army secured the area and conducted forensic examinations. Gastelum's body was taken for an autopsy, and prosecutors have opened an investigation into the killing.
According to reports, the motorcycle had passed through the area earlier, causing concern among Gastelum's friends, before returning for the attack. During the livestream, one companion reportedly said, 'Let’s go, guys,' and another noticed the motorcycle, saying, 'No, the motorcycle, the motorcycle.'
Online presence and public reaction
Gastelum had a substantial online following, with over 600,000 TikTok followers and more than 22 million likes. He also had over 124,000 Instagram followers and a YouTube channel with over 16,000 subscribers, featuring travel, vehicles, events, and daily life content.
The killing sparked anger and fear online, with many expressing concern over the level of violence in Culiacan, which has seen a wave of violence since late 2024. The violence has been linked to an internal conflict within the Sinaloa Cartel, but authorities have not publicly confirmed any connection to Gastelum's killing, and the motive remains under investigation.
