TikTok Influencer Valeria Márquez Fatally Shot While Broadcasting Live in Mexico

A tragic incident occurred on Tuesday in Jalisco, Mexico, where a 23-year-old influencer named Valeria Márquez was fatally shot at a beauty salon while she was streaming live on TikTok. According to the Jalisco State Prosecutor’s Office, Márquez was working at a salon in Zapopan and broadcasting to her 113,000 followers when two men arrived on a motorbike. One of the men entered the salon, covered his face, and sought out Márquez. He then shot her and fled. Márquez’s TikTok account later showed a video of the shooting in which she was seen clutching her chest and stomach before collapsing. No suspects have been identified, and authorities are investigating the crime as a possible “femicide,” which describes gender-based violence. This incident is a stark reminder of the increasing violence targeted at women in Mexico. Mexican legislation has introduced measures to counteract gender-based violence, but the country still reports high rates of femicide, with a study indicating that roughly 10 or 11 women are murdered each day. Officials and criminal justice systems often under-investigate these cases, and convictions are rare. This shooting comes shortly after the murder of a mayoral candidate, Yesenia Lara Gutiérrez, also caught on live-stream. Experts attribute the violence to a “machismo” culture and ingrained sexism resistant to change. Fear for women’s safety remains high across all socioeconomic backgrounds and professions within the country.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/14/world/americas/valeria-marquez-tiktok-influencer-live-murder-mexico.html