A Mexican social media influencer was shot dead while broadcasting in a beauty salon in an area known for cartel violence, and prosecutors said she was the victim of a targeted attack by the killer.
Valeria Márquez, 23, a model and beauty influencer with more than 113,000 followers on Tiktok, collapsed on cameras, fled the scene with his accomplices on a motorcycle, along with his accomplices.
Under Mexican law, the tough murder is being investigated for women, a gender-based crime, with Mexican President Claudia expressing condolences to Marquez’s family and saying Mexico’s security cabinet is working to resolve the murder with the prosecutor’s office.
Mexican social media influencer Valeria Márquez was shot deadly during the live broadcast. Authorities suspect she was the victim of a targeted hit associated with cartel violence and is being investigated as a female. (@v ___ Marquez/ via Instagram)
My family waited for 40 years for justice after the cartel killed my husband. Thanks to Trump, finally here
According to witnesses, Márquez expressed concerns that the two men arrived at a salon in Jalisco, near Guadalajara, western Mexico, claiming she had a "very expensive" gift that needed to be given to her in person, but she was not there at the time.
"Maybe they're going to kill me," Marquels said in a videotape before she was killed before she made a living from the salon. "They are coming to take me there, or something? I'm worried."
When the men returned, they asked if it was Marquez who was now in the salon.
Before the voice in the backstage asked, "Hey, Gu?", she heard her say, "They are here."
"Yes," Max replied before mute live.
A moment later, she was shot to death. One seems to pick up the phone, and their faces briefly displayed on the livestream before the video ends.
Denis Rodríguez, spokesman for the Jalisco State Attorney's Office, said investigators believe the men were hired assassins.
Relatives held a funeral for the murdered influencers on Thursday. (Reuters)
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"The invader arrived and asked if the victim (Marquez) was there. So it seems he didn't know her," Rodriguez said. "So you can deduce it without having to conclude that it is a paid person. Obviously a purposeful person."
Before the deadly footage rang, Márquez handed a stuffed animal and a bag of Starbucks coffee on the livestream.
The region is firmly controlled by one of Mexico's most powerful cartels, Jalisco New Generation Cartel and murdered by a gun hired by motorcycles, commonly known as the "Sicarios", which has become a common situation.
Rodríguez said authorities are also investigating whether the death was murdered in the same area as the killing of a former MP, which was also conducted by two men on motorcycles.
Killing has allowed shock waves to pass through a country facing high levels of violence in women.
Sheinbaum said on Thursday that an investigation is underway to first find those responsible and the motivations behind the situation.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed condolences to Márquez's family. (Reuters)
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"We are working to find responsible people and identify the motivation behind this situation. Obviously, in this unfortunate situation, we have expressed our solidarity with our family. Our solidarity is expressed to her family."
Relatives held a funeral for the murdered influencers on Thursday.
Jalisco ranked sixth among 32 Mexico states, including Mexico City, according to data consulting firm Tresearch.
Fox News' Alexis McAdams, AP and Reuters contributed to the report.