In a tragic incident on August 4, Mexican TikTok star César Gastélum was killed in the city of Culiacán while broadcasting live.
Gastélum, a figure with a substantial following of over 600,000 on TikTok, was outside a fast food chain in northwestern Mexico when the attack occurred. According to CNN, which referenced information from local and federal sources, he was unexpectedly attacked.
The shocking moment saw two helmeted individuals approach Gastélum on a motorcycle. The driver reportedly “appeared to fire a gun directly at Gastélum,” as noted by Reuters.
In response, a Sinaloa state security official confirmed Gastélum’s demise and revealed that a “significant security operation” is being executed in the aftermath of the shooting, according to NBC News.
Oxygen has reached out to state police, public safety officials, and Culiacán authorities for further comment.
Gastélum’s killing comes amid ongoing violence in the Mexican state of Sinaloa, where rival criminal groups have been battling for control of the region.
According to NBC News, Culiacán has become the center of a conflict between criminal factions “competing for control” of the area.
The U.S. Department of State currently advises Americans not to travel to Sinaloa due to crime and terrorism. The advisory warns of risks posed by cartels, gangs, terrorist groups and other criminal organizations operating throughout the state.
Gastélum’s death also follows another high-profile killing that unfolded on social media earlier this year. In May 2025, beauty influencer Valeria Márquez was fatally shot while livestreaming on TikTok from her salon in Jalisco. Mexican authorities recently announced the arrest of alleged cartel leader Ramón Ángel Álvarez Ayala, who is accused of orchestrating that killing, though officials have not indicated that the two cases are connected.