Influencer shot useless throughout livestream voiced concern minutes earlier than homicide: “Perhaps they have been going to kill me”

The social media influencer who was shot dead during a livestream on TikTok within the Mexican state of Jalisco gave the impression to be murdered by a success man and expressed concern earlier than being killed, prosecutors stated on Thursday.

The grisly homicide of 23-year-old Valeria Márquez on Tuesday shocked the Latin American nation, igniting rumors concerning the motive behind her killing in a area that is been eclipsed by cartel violence in recent times. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated her administration is working with native investigators to trace down the killer and prolonged her condolences to Márquez’s household.

Denis Rodríguez, a spokesperson for the Jalisco State Prosecutor’s Workplace, supplied new particulars on the killing on Thursday, however stated prosecutors were still investigating the demise of the mannequin and sweetness influencer with greater than 113,000 followers on the social media app.

Rodríguez stated that early Tuesday afternoon, hours earlier than the capturing, a masked man posing as a supply driver arrived on the magnificence salon on the outskirts of Guadalajara, accompanied by one other man on a motorbike. In response to a lady within the salon, the lads stated that they had a “very costly” reward for Márquez that they needed to ship in particular person. When Márquez arrived and heard individuals have been searching for her she expressed concern in her livestream.

“Perhaps they have been going to kill me,” she stated within the video minutes earlier than she was killed. “Had been they going to come back and take me away, or what? I am nervous.”

When the lads returned, they requested if it was Márquez who was now within the salon, one thing that prompted prosecutors to imagine that the lads have been employed assassins, Rodríguez stated.

“The aggressor arrived asking if the sufferer (Márquez) was there. So it seems he did not know her,” Rodríguez stated. “With that, you possibly can deduce – with out leaping to conclusions – that this was an individual who was paid. It was clearly somebody who got here with a goal.”

Marquez was seen on the livestream saying, “they’re coming,” earlier than a voice off display requested “Hey, Vale?” and Marquez replied “sure,” the Reuters news agency reported.

Márquez was handed a stuffed animal and a bag of Starbucks espresso whereas she was on the livestream, and was shot within the head and the chest, collapsing on digital camera. TikTok has since taken down the influencer’s account.

Whereas it was nonetheless unclear who was behind the killing, the area is firmly managed by one of the vital highly effective cartels in Mexico, the Jalisco New Era Cartel, and Rodríguez famous murders by employed weapons on bikes, usually referred to as “sicarios,” have grow to be a standard incidence.

The Jalisco New Era Cartel has not too long ago been accused of utilizing faux job ads to lure new members and of torturing and killing recruits who resist.

Rodríguez stated that authorities have been additionally investigating if the demise was linked to the homicide of a former congressman simply hours earlier in the identical space of Guadalajara, additionally carried out by two males on a motorbike. The state prosecutor’s office said he was killed inside a shopping center in Zapopan.

Femicide epidemic and violence in opposition to influencers

Márquez’s homicide has shocked Mexico — the place killings and kidnappings are a each day incidence — and introduced into sharp focus each its femicide epidemic and rising violence in opposition to influencers.

It isn’t the primary homicide of a social media star in Mexico, which has a historical past of musicians, influencers and different celebrities getting caught up within the felony underworld.

In January, a small airplane was reported to have dropped pamphlets on the northwestern cartel stronghold of Culiacan threatening round 20 artists and YouTubers for alleged dealings with a warring faction of the Sinaloa drug cartel.

A number of influencers in Sinaloa have already been killed.

David Saucedo, an unbiased knowledgeable on Mexican cartels, stated individuals who have fallen afoul of the gangs embody informants, cash launderers and people in romantic relationships with criminals.

“Influencers have grow to be one other cog within the machine of organized crime,” he stated.

Zapopan mayor Juan Jose Frangie stated that his workplace has no report of Marquez requesting assist from authorities due to threats in opposition to her.

“It is unbelievable that (one minute) you are making a video and then you definately’re murdered. A femicide is the worst factor,” Frangie stated.

In response to the United Nations, 70 % of girls over the age of 15 have skilled some type of assault no less than as soon as of their lives in Mexico. Since 2001, no less than 50,000 ladies have been murdered in Mexico, according to the U.N, however solely 2% of instances finish in a felony sentence and just one in 10 victims experiences their aggressor.

Round 10 ladies or ladies are murdered every single day within the Latin American nation, however few draw as a lot consideration as Marquez’s sudden demise whereas interacting along with her followers.

On Marquez’s Instagram account, the place photographs confirmed the younger girl lounging on a yacht, by a swimming pool and in a non-public airplane, some customers paid tribute to the influencer.

Others speculated concerning the motive, the sources of her obvious wealth and doable position of an ex-boyfriend.

“Justice for Valeria,” a number of posts demanded.

“So younger and delightful, she didn’t should have her life taken away,” one person wrote.

Agence France-Presse contributed to this report.