A young Mexican social media influencer was tragically shot and killed during a TikTok livestream. Valeria Marquez, who was just 23 years old and had around 200,000 followers, was at a beauty salon in Zapopan, Jalisco, when the incident occurred on Tuesday.
During her livestream, Valeria was seen sitting at a table, holding a stuffed toy. She suddenly said, "They’re coming," before a voice off-screen called out to her. After responding, she muted her livestream. Moments later, she was shot twice—once in the head and once in the chest—dying instantly.
Earlier in the stream, Valeria mentioned that someone had come to the salon with an expensive gift for her while she was away. The local prosecutor’s office is treating her death as a femicide, which refers to the killing of women or girls due to their gender.
This shocking event highlights the alarming issue of gender-based violence in Mexico, where, according to the United Nations, ten women or girls are murdered every day by partners or family members. The authorities have not yet identified any suspects in Valeria’s case.
Her death has raised concerns about the safety of women in Mexico and the prevalence of violence against them. As investigations continue, many are calling for action to address this ongoing crisis.