A 23-year-old Mexican social media influencer, Valeria Marquez, was shot dead while live streaming on TikTok at her beauty salon in Guadalajara, authorities confirmed.
The Jalisco state prosecutor’s office reported that a man entered the salon in the Zapopan suburb and fired at Marquez during her livestream.
The video showed Marquez sitting at a table holding a stuffed animal moments before the fatal shooting.
The livestream ended when another person picked up her phone and stopped the recording.
Marquez had nearly 200,000 followers across TikTok and Instagram. Her fans expressed shock and sorrow following the news.
Police arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting, confirming Marquez’s death at around 6:30 p.m. local time, as local reports suggested the attacker may have gained access by pretending to bring her a gift.
Officials said they were treating the case as a gender-based killing, although the motive behind the killing remained unclear.
No suspect has yet been named, and forensic experts have continued investigating the tragic shooting.
Gender-based violence is a serious issue in Mexico, where the United Nations reports that on average, 10 women or girls are murdered daily by partners or family members.
Zapopan Mayor Juan José Frangie stated that the influencer had not previously sought police protection despite threats.
“A femicide is the worst thing,” he said.
