A Mexican social media influencer was shot dead during a TikTok livestream, authorities said.
Valeria Marquez, 23, who had nearly 200,000 followers on social media, was working at a beauty salon in Zapopan, Jalisco, central Mexico, before the incident on Tuesday.
On her TikTok livestream, Marquez was seen seated at a table holding a stuffed toy in front of her. She was heard saying, “They’re coming,” before a voice off-screen asked, “Hey, Vale?”
“Yes,” Marquez responded before muting the sound on her livestream.
She appeared to be speaking to someone off-camera when she was shot once in the head and once in the chest, killing her instantly.
Marquez had said earlier in the livestream that someone had come to the salon when she was not there with an “expensive gift” for her.
The Jalisco state prosecutor said in a statement that her death is being investigated as femicide – the killing of women or girls for reasons of gender.
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Gender-based violence is highly common in Mexico. According to the UN, 10 women or girls in the country are murdered every day by partners or family members.
The prosecutor’s office did not name a suspect.
