A Mexican social media influencer was fatally shot while livestreaming alongside two friends Tuesday evening, with thousands of viewers witnessing the attack in real time.
César Daniel Nolasco Gastélum, 24, was filming content outside a KFC restaurant in Culiacán, Sinaloa State, when two men on a motorcycle allegedly carried out the shooting.
Gastélum, who streamed under the alias “Compasexor,” was participating in a social media stunt with two companions. According to the report, the group had dressed as food delivery riders for the challenge.
The attack occurred at approximately 8:15 p.m. on Aug. 4.
Video from the livestream reportedly showed the motorcycle approaching before one of the riders raised a firearm and shot Gastélum in the head at close range.
The incident unfolded live on the streaming platform Kick, where viewers watched the events as they happened.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene, but Gastélum had no vital signs when paramedics reached him, according to the report.
Neither of the two other content creators accompanying Gastélum was injured in the attack.
According to reports, the same motorcycle had circled the parking lot just minutes before the shooting. One of Gastélum’s companions could reportedly be heard expressing concern shortly before the attack, saying, “Those lads scare me.”
The attackers were reportedly riding a white, red and black Honda dual-purpose motorcycle. One suspect was described as wearing a gray T-shirt and jeans, while the other was dressed in a black shirt and jeans.
Authorities have not announced any arrests.
Prosecutors in Sinaloa confirmed they have opened a murder investigation into the killing. Police officers and military personnel secured the crime scene, which was located only a short distance from the state attorney general’s office.
Officials have not released a possible motive for the shooting.
Gastélum had built a sizable following on social media through comedy sketches, parodies centered on northern Mexican culture, and livestream conversations with viewers. He had approximately 600,000 followers on TikTok and another 123,000 followers on Instagram.
The fatal shooting comes as Culiacán continues to experience violence tied to ongoing territorial disputes between rival organized crime groups, according to the report.
The killing also draws comparisons to last year’s livestream slaying of beauty influencer Valeria Márquez in the Mexican state of Jalisco.
Authorities have not indicated whether the incidents are connected.
The investigation into Gastélum’s death remains active as law enforcement continues working to identify those responsible for the attack.
The brazen killing, carried out in a public location while the victim was broadcasting live to an online audience, has added another high-profile case to Mexico’s recent string of attacks that have drawn widespread attention on social media.
For now, investigators have disclosed few details beyond confirming the homicide investigation. No suspects have been taken into custody, and officials have not provided additional information regarding a possible motive or whether Gastélum had been specifically targeted before the shooting.
Law enforcement authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deadly attack as the case remains under review.
