Influencer shot dead outside restaurant while livestreaming with friends

This is the shocking moment a Mexican influencer was shot dead during a live broadcast as two attackers on a motorcycle pulled up and one opens fire outside a KFC restaurant.

Content creator Cesar Gastelum was killed in Culiacan, Mexico, around 8.14pm on Monday while livestreaming.

Cesar was speaking to his followers and standing with two other men in the car park of a KFC restaurant when the attack happened.

Footage from the livestream showed two men arriving at the drive-thru exit on a white, red and black Honda motorcycle before one of them approached Cesar and shot him in the head with a handgun.

The attackers, who were wearing motorcycle helmets, then fled the scene on the bike.

Cesar was accompanied by the two people who were helping him record the broadcast, and they were left unharmed but suffered a shock after witnessing the shooting.

Emergency services and security forces came to the scene after reports of the shooting, but responders confirmed Cesar had died.

Investigators from the Sinaloa State Prosecutor’s Office, state police and the Mexican Army secured the area and carried out forensic examinations.

Cesar’s body was taken to the forensic medical service for an autopsy, while prosecutors opened an investigation into the killing.

According to reports, the motorcycle carrying the two attackers had already passed through the area, sparking fear among Cesar’s friends, before returning for the murder.

Earlier during the livestream, one of Cesar’s companions reportedly said: ‘Let’s go, guys.’

Another person then appeared to notice the motorcycle and said: ‘No, the motorcycle, the motorcycle.’

Cesar had built a large following online with more than 600,000 followers on TikTok and over 22 million likes.

He also had more than 124,000 followers on Instagram, where he shared content about travel, vehicles, events and his daily life.

On YouTube, Cesar ran a channel with more than 16,000 subscribers featuring blogs, viral video compilations, food content, reactions and gaming videos.

The killing sparked anger and fear among people online, with many expressing concern over the level of violence in Culiacan, which has continued to experience a wave of violence since late 2024.

The violence has been linked to an internal conflict within the Sinaloa Cartel between factions aligned with two cartel leaders, but authorities have not publicly confirmed any connection between Cesar’s killing and organised crime groups, and the motive behind the attack remains under investigation.

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