Importance Score: 85 / 100 🟢
A young Mexican social media influencer, celebrated for her beauty and makeup tutorials, was fatally shot during a live TikTok broadcast, an incident that has deeply affected a nation grappling with widespread gender-based violence.
Investigation Launched into Murder of Social Media Influencer
The killing of Valeria Márquez, 23, is being investigated as a femicide – the slaying of a woman or girl motivated by gender – as confirmed in a statement released by the Jalisco state prosecutor on Tuesday night. This tragic event highlights the ongoing issues of gender-based violence in Mexico.
Understanding Femicide
According to Mexican authorities, femicide can involve acts of violence, sexual assault, a relationship between the victim and perpetrator, or the public exposure of the victim’s body.
Details of the Incident
Márquez was murdered on Tuesday in the Zapopan beauty salon where she was employed. An unidentified man entered the establishment and shot her, according to the prosecutor’s statement.
Events Leading to the Shooting
Moments before the attack, Márquez was visible on her TikTok livestream, sitting at a table and holding a stuffed animal. She was heard uttering, “They’re coming,” followed by a voice asking, “Hey, Vale?”
Márquez responded, “Yes,” before muting the sound on the livestream.
The Fatal Moment and Aftermath
Shortly thereafter, she was shot. Someone then appeared to pick up her phone, with their face momentarily visible on the livestream before the video concluded.
Background and Context
Márquez, who had almost 200,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok, had previously mentioned on the livestream that someone had visited the salon in her absence with a “valuable gift” intended for her. Appearing wary, Márquez stated she did not intend to wait for the person to return.
Femicide Rates in Latin America
- Mexico, along with Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia, has the fourth-highest rates of femicide in Latin America and the Caribbean.
- According to the latest data from the United Nations economic commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, there were 1.3 such deaths for every 100,000 women in 2023.
Homicide Statistics in Jalisco
- Jalisco ranks sixth among Mexico’s 32 states, including Mexico City, for homicides.
- Data consultancy TResearch reports 906 homicides in Jalisco since the beginning of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s term in October 2024.