A tragic incident occurred when a 23-year-old Mexican social media influencer lost her life during a live streaming session on TikTok. According to the state prosecutor’s office, Valeria Marquez was killed when a man entered her beauty salon in Guadalajara and fired a gun at her. The motive behind the attack remains unknown as the case is being investigated as a femicide, indicating that the victim was targeted due to her gender.
Mexico is plagued by gender-based violence, with the United Nations reporting that 10 women or girls are murdered every day by their partners or family members. In the moments leading up to her death, Marquez was sitting at a table in her beauty salon in Zapopan, holding a stuffed animal and streaming live. She was suddenly shot dead, with the recording only stopping after someone picked up her phone.
Local media reports suggest that the attacker disguised himself as someone bringing her a gift. Police confirmed Marquez’s death upon arriving at the scene around 18:30 local time (12:30 GMT). No suspect has been named by the prosecutor’s office, leaving the incident shrouded in mystery.
Marquez had a substantial social media following across TikTok and Instagram, amassing nearly 200,000 fans. Her death has sent shockwaves through her fan base, with many reacting in horror. Zapopan Mayor Juan José Frangie stated that his office had no record of Marquez seeking help from authorities regarding any threats against her, emphasizing the severity of the incident.
Forensic experts are currently investigating the shooting to shed light on the circumstances surrounding Valeria Marquez’s untimely demise.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg4rn0z1r6o
