A 23-year-old Mexican social media influencer was shot and killed while live – streaming from her beauty salon in Guadalajara, authorities in the state of Jalisco have confirmed.
Valeria Márquez, known for her presence on TikTok and Instagram where she had close to 200,000 followers, was reportedly broadcasting from her salon in the Zapopan suburb when an unidentified man entered the premises and opened fire.
According to the Jalisco State Prosecutor’s Office, the assailant appeared to have disguised his intentions, possibly pretending to bring a gift before carrying out the fatal shooting. The motive remains unclear, but the incident is being treated as a femicide—a gender-based killing that remains alarmingly common in Mexico.
In the final moments of her livestream, Márquez could be seen holding a stuffed toy while seated at a table. The stream continued after the gunshot rang out, ending only when someone else picked up her phone and stopped the broadcast.
Authorities responded to the scene around 6:30 p.m. local time and confirmed Márquez’s death. No suspect has been named as of yet, and the investigation remains ongoing, with forensic specialists examining the evidence.
The news of Márquez’s death has sparked an outpouring of grief and outrage on social media. Many of her followers have expressed shock over the violent nature of her killing.
Zapopan Mayor Juan José Frangie told reporters that there was no prior indication that Márquez had received threats or sought protection.
“A femicide is the most tragic and unacceptable form of violence,” he said, according to the AFP news agency.
Mexico continues to struggle with high rates of gender-based violence.
According to United Nations data, an estimated 10 women or girls are murdered each day in the country, often by intimate partners or family members.
The Jalisco prosecutor’s office has pledged to pursue the case with urgency, as public scrutiny intensifies and calls grow louder for justice in the wake of yet another fatal attack on a woman.
Source: BBC
