A 23-year-old Mexican social media personality was fatally shot while broadcasting live to her followers, sparking concerns about violence in the region.
TikTok Tragedy Unfolds Live as Influencer Receives Fatal Gunshot Wounds
Valeria Márquez, a 23-year-old Mexican influencer with over 223,000 Instagram followers and 100,000 TikTok followers, was shot dead on Tuesday at Blossom The Beauty Lounge, a salon she owned in Zapopan, in Mexico’s Jalisco state.
During her final livestream, Márquez was seated at a table holding a pink stuffed toy when she said “they’re coming,” followed by a voice in the background asking, “Hey, Vale?”
Advertisements
“Yes,” Márquez replied, before the livestream sound was muted.
Moments later, she was shot, grabbing her chest and belly before collapsing. Another person briefly appeared in the frame before ending the broadcast.
Earlier in the same livestream, Márquez had expressed concern about a courier bringing an “expensive gift” to the salon when she wasn’t there.
“Why didn’t he just drop it off? Were they going to pick me up or what?” she wondered aloud to her viewers.
The state prosecutor’s office confirmed that police arrived at the scene around 18:30 local time (12:30 GMT).
According to authorities, at least two men on motorcycles arrived at the salon, and one asked if she was Valeria before pulling out a gun and shooting her at least twice.
Investigation Points to Gender-Based Violence Amid Rising Femicide Rates
The Jalisco state prosecutor’s office stated they are investigating the crime as a femicide, indicating they believe the killing was motivated by the victim’s gender.
“In response to claims pointing to alleged perpetrators of the femicide in Zapopan, we clarify that there are no direct accusations against any individual in the investigation file,” the Jalisco prosecutor’s office said in a statement.
Advertisements
Mexican media had previously published messages where Márquez blamed her ex-partner if anything happened to her.
Zapopan Mayor Juan José Frangie said his office had no record of Márquez requesting help due to threats against her.
President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed the case, stating: “We’re working to catch those responsible and find out why this happened.”
The location of the crime has raised questions about possible motives. Zapopan, despite its wealthy appearance and private security, ranks as one of the most violent municipalities in Jalisco.
The U.S. Department of Justice reports that more than half of the real estate and commercial development in the area is linked to drug trafficking and money laundering.
Advertisements
Jalisco ranks sixth among Mexico’s 32 states for homicides, with 906 murders recorded since President Sheinbaum took office in October 2024, according to data firm TResearch.
The same day Márquez was killed, former congressman Luis Armando Córdoba Díaz was murdered just two kilometers away, according to the newspaper Reforma.
Mexico has high rates of gender-based violence, ranking fourth in Latin America and the Caribbean for femicide rates. United Nations data shows 1.3 femicide deaths per 100,000 women in Mexico in 2023.
Less than 48 hours before Márquez’s murder, Yesenia Lara Gutiérrez, a mayoral candidate for the ruling Morena party in Texistepec, Veracruz, was also killed during a political motorcade that was being livestreamed on Facebook.
The Rising Star’s Journey Cut Short
Márquez began making a name for herself in 2021 after winning the Miss Rostro (Miss Face) beauty pageant, according to Mexican media.
Advertisements
She later built her social media presence by sharing makeup tips, personal care routines, fashion advice, and travel content.
Her Instagram account featured photos of her on private jets and yachts, showcasing a glamorous lifestyle that attracted hundreds of thousands of followers.
Investigators are now checking CCTV footage and tracking Márquez’s social media accounts for clues about her attackers.
The prosecutor’s office added that “all statements and clues, including videos and social media posts, are being analyzed” as part of the investigation, which is “being conducted under the femicide protocol, with a gender perspective, without revictimization and in accordance with the principles of legality, impartiality and respect for human rights.”
Here’s what NCMPs are, and what to expect after GE2025:
Read Also:
- Isetan to Close Tampines Mall Store After Nearly 30 Years as Anchor Tenant
- Massive Bedbug Infestation from Vacant HDB Flat Torments At Least Seven Ang Mo Kio Households
- 31-Year-Old Man Charged after Violent Attack Caught on Camera, Arsenal of Weapons Found in Sengkang Raid
- Former Teacher Gets 19-Month Sentence After CCTV Captures Shocking Abuse of Two Toddlers at Singapore Pre-School
- Chinese Student Studying in Singapore Kidnapped in Malaysia, Parents Received 3.5 Million Yuan Ransom Demand with Death Threats
- Singapore Ministers Deny Personal Ties with Convicted Money Launderer Su Haijin After Photos Surface Online
