Saturday, March 29, 2025
Valeria Márquez, a 23-year-old Mexican influencer shot dead during a TikTok live stream in Zapopan, Mexico. The shocking event has sent ripples across a country struggling with high rates of gender-based violence.
The Jalisco state prosecutor confirmed the death is being investigated as a femicide, which is the killing of a woman due to her gender. Mexican authorities define femicide as involving degrading violence, sexual abuse, or public exposure of the victim’s body.
Márquez was in the beauty salon where she worked when a man entered and shot her. The prosecutor’s office has not named any suspect yet.
Seconds before the shooting, Márquez appeared on her TikTok live stream holding a stuffed toy. She said, “They’re coming,” while a voice asked, “Hey, Vale?” She responded, “Yes,” before muting the stream.
Moments later, she was shot. The live stream briefly showed a person picking up her phone before it ended.
Márquez had nearly 200,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok. Earlier in the live stream, she mentioned someone had visited the salon with an “expensive gift” for her. She said she would not wait if the person returned, showing concern.
Mexico faces a serious femicide crisis. The country ranks among the top in Latin America and the Caribbean for femicide rates, with 1.3 deaths per 100,000 women in 2023, according to the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.
The state of Jalisco ranks sixth in Mexico for homicides. Since October 2024, 906 homicides have been recorded there, including in Mexico City, according to data consultancy TResearch.d
