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23 Year Old TikTok Influencer Valeria Marquez Shot Dead During Live Stream
Updated on: 15 May, 2025 01:31 PM IST |Amruta Karulkar
Valeria Marquez
The world of social media was shaken this week by the horrifying news of Valeria Marquez, a 23-year-old Mexican beauty influencer, who was tragically shot and killed during a TikTok livestream. The incident, which unfolded in her workplace, has not only stunned her followers but has also cast a harsh spotlight on Mexico`s ongoing crisis of gender-based violence.
The attack occurred while Marquez was actively engaging with her followers on a TikTok livestream. Seconds before the fatal shots, Marquez was seen seated at a table, holding a stuffed toy. Viewers heard her say, “They’re coming,” which was followed by a voice in the background asking, “Hey, Vale?” She responded, “Yes,” before muting the livestream`s sound. Moments later, the chilling sound of gunshots rang out. Visuals from the stream reportedly showed Valeria briefly looking out of a window before she was struck—once in the chest and twice in the head. A person then appeared to pick up her phone, their face briefly visible before the livestream abruptly ended. Paramedics arrived quickly at the scene, but tragically, Valeria was declared dead on the spot.
Earlier in the same livestream, Marquez had shared a concerning incident with her followers. She mentioned that someone had visited the salon with an “expensive gift” for her while she wasn`t there. Expressing unease, she stated she was not planning to wait for the person to return.
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Local media outlet Milenio, citing sources, reported a potential connection to Ricardo Ruiz Velazco, also known as ‘El Doble RR’, ‘RR’, or ‘El Tripa’. The report suggested Velazco was in a relationship with Marquez for several months and was allegedly angered by expensive gifts she received from fans. Milenio also identified Velazco as a leader of an armed group linked to the notorious Jalisco Nueva Generacion Cartel (CJNG). However, authorities have not officially commented on this report, and it remains unclear if Velazco has been arrested. Some reports indicate the gunman, posing as a delivery rider, arrived on a motorbike.
Marquez`s murder underscores the alarming rates of femicide in Mexico. According to UN data from 2023, Mexico ties with Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia for the fourth-highest rate of femicide in Latin America and the Caribbean, with 1.3 femicides per 100,000 women. Jalisco, the state where the killing occurred, ranks sixth among Mexico’s 32 states in homicides, with 906 recorded since President Claudia Sheinbaum took office in October 2024, according to data consultancy TResearch.
Rights groups continue to criticise Mexico`s response to such violence. Human Rights Watch Americas Director Juanita Goebertus told CNN that "one of the key problems is the lack of capacity among authorities to investigate cases properly and protect both victims and witnesses." The tragic death of Valeria Marquez serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need for effective action against gender-based violence in the country.
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Who Was Valeria Marquez?
Valeria Marquez was a vibrant 23-year-old social media personality, renowned for sharing her passion for beauty and makeup with a significant online audience. At the time of her death, she had amassed an impressive following, with 149,000 followers on Instagram and over 114,000 on TikTok. Her platforms, usually filled with beauty tips and creative content, are now flooded with messages of grief and disbelief from her shocked fanbase. Marquez was killed on Tuesday inside Blossom the Beauty Lounge, the beauty salon where she worked in Zapopan, Jalisco, a municipality on the outskirts of Guadalajara in western Mexico.The attack occurred while Marquez was actively engaging with her followers on a TikTok livestream. Seconds before the fatal shots, Marquez was seen seated at a table, holding a stuffed toy. Viewers heard her say, “They’re coming,” which was followed by a voice in the background asking, “Hey, Vale?” She responded, “Yes,” before muting the livestream`s sound. Moments later, the chilling sound of gunshots rang out. Visuals from the stream reportedly showed Valeria briefly looking out of a window before she was struck—once in the chest and twice in the head. A person then appeared to pick up her phone, their face briefly visible before the livestream abruptly ended. Paramedics arrived quickly at the scene, but tragically, Valeria was declared dead on the spot.
Earlier in the same livestream, Marquez had shared a concerning incident with her followers. She mentioned that someone had visited the salon with an “expensive gift” for her while she wasn`t there. Expressing unease, she stated she was not planning to wait for the person to return.
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Investigation Underway: Femicide Protocol and Potential Suspect
Authorities in Jalisco are investigating the case under femicide protocols. According to Mexican authorities, femicide can involve degrading violence, sexual abuse, a relationship with the murderer, or the victim’s body being exposed in a public space. Police have sealed off the salon, and a search for the perpetrator is ongoing.Local media outlet Milenio, citing sources, reported a potential connection to Ricardo Ruiz Velazco, also known as ‘El Doble RR’, ‘RR’, or ‘El Tripa’. The report suggested Velazco was in a relationship with Marquez for several months and was allegedly angered by expensive gifts she received from fans. Milenio also identified Velazco as a leader of an armed group linked to the notorious Jalisco Nueva Generacion Cartel (CJNG). However, authorities have not officially commented on this report, and it remains unclear if Velazco has been arrested. Some reports indicate the gunman, posing as a delivery rider, arrived on a motorbike.
Marquez`s murder underscores the alarming rates of femicide in Mexico. According to UN data from 2023, Mexico ties with Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia for the fourth-highest rate of femicide in Latin America and the Caribbean, with 1.3 femicides per 100,000 women. Jalisco, the state where the killing occurred, ranks sixth among Mexico’s 32 states in homicides, with 906 recorded since President Claudia Sheinbaum took office in October 2024, according to data consultancy TResearch.
Rights groups continue to criticise Mexico`s response to such violence. Human Rights Watch Americas Director Juanita Goebertus told CNN that "one of the key problems is the lack of capacity among authorities to investigate cases properly and protect both victims and witnesses." The tragic death of Valeria Marquez serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need for effective action against gender-based violence in the country.
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