In a shocking incident that has reverberated across social media, 23-year-old TikTok influencer Valeria Márquez was shot and killed on Tuesday while livestreaming to her 113,000 followers from a beauty salon in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico. The attack reportedly involved two men on a motorcycle; one entered the shop, directly inquiring for Márquez before fatally shooting her and fleeing the scene.
According to the Jalisco State Prosecutor’s Office, the assailant had donned a mask and immediately asked, “Are you Valeria?” Upon her confirmation, he drew a firearm and opened fire. Disturbing footage of the incident, which has since circulated online, shows Márquez sitting in a salon chair, holding a pink stuffed pig, before being shot and slumping over.
Despite the harrowing nature of the footage, attempts to get swift justice remain hampered, as prosecutors currently have no suspects. Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage and searching through Márquez’s social media accounts in hopes of finding leads. The prosecutor’s spokesperson noted that it appears the attackers did not have a prior relationship with Márquez, as they had needed to ask for her by name when they visited the salon earlier under the pretense of delivering a gift.
Ms. Márquez’s tragic death has caused an uproar and serves as a stark reminder of the increased violence targeting women in Mexico—a reality many activists continue to combat as they strive for safer environments for women nationwide.
