The Mexican influencer Valeria Márquez was shot and killed on May 13 while live streaming on her TikTok account from her business “Blossom The Beauty Lounge,” located in the municipality of Zapopan, Jalisco.
The young woman was 23 years old and was chatting with her followers when, off-camera, she exchanged words with a supposed delivery person. Minutes later, she was shot twice, once in the chest and once in the head. She died on the spot.
The crime has caused shock throughout Mexico, especially among its more than 100,000 followers on Instagram and over 101,000 on TikTok.
Her last story on social media, posted moments before the attack, was a selfie in which she wore a pink bodysuit that had also appeared in a recent advertising collaboration. After her death was confirmed, her posts were filled with messages of grief, questions, and theories.
"Valeria, say it's a joke"; "Investigate her last partner. He had her kicked out of a club"; "What incredible beauty and what an unfair outcome," were some of the comments.
The Attorney General's Office of the State of Jalisco opened an investigation file under the feminicide protocol, a classification that applies when a woman is murdered for gender-related reasons.
It was a close friend of the influencer, who was in the room, that ended the live stream after the attack. However, some users are demanding an investigation into another acquaintance of Valeria, identified as Vivian de la Torre.
This woman had asked the victim to stay at the location to receive some expensive gifts. Milenio reported that the presents arrived independently. The first delivery was flowers, the second a stuffed animal, and during the third visit, the delivery person left two fatal shots, one to the chest and one to the head.
The main suspect in the homicide is Ricardo Ruiz Velazco, also known as Doble R, the former partner of the influencer. This individual is the leader of the Elite Group of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Investigations have focused on him for the murder of a Venezuelan woman in 2012 and the murder of an influencer known as El Pirata de Culiacán in 2017. However, he was not convicted in those cases.
On the same day as Márquez's murder, former PRI deputy Luis Armando Córdova Díaz was shot dead in a nearby café. Both crimes occurred in an area where the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación maintains strong control. So far, no connection between the cases has been confirmed.
Mexico is one of the countries with the highest femicide rates in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Violence against women in that country continues to show alarming statistics and shocking cases such as Valeria Márquez, whose death was recorded before the eyes of viewers on one of the most popular platforms in the world.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Murder of Mexican TikToker Valeria Márquez
Who was Valeria Márquez and how did her murder happen?
Valeria Márquez was a 23-year-old Mexican influencer who was shot and killed on May 13 while live streaming from her business in Zapopan, Jalisco. She was attacked by an alleged delivery person, receiving two gunshot wounds that caused her immediate death.
What impact did the murder of Valeria Márquez have on social media?
The murder of Valeria Márquez caused a great shock in Mexico and among her followers on social media, where she had over 100,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok. Her posts were filled with messages of grief and theories about what happened, reflecting the emotional impact on her followers and the general public.
How is the investigation into the murder of Valeria Márquez proceeding?
The Attorney General's Office of the State of Jalisco has opened an investigation file under the feminicide protocol, which is applied when a woman is murdered for gender-related reasons. The investigation aims to clarify the motives and circumstances of the crime.
Is there any connection between the murder of Valeria Márquez and other crimes in the area?
On the same day as Valeria Márquez's murder, former PRI deputy Luis Armando Córdova Díaz was shot dead in a nearby café. So far, no connection has been confirmed between the two cases, but both occurred in an area where the Jalisco New Generation Cartel has strong control.
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