TIKTOK star Valeria Marquez was visited by a mystery man with an “expensive gift” moments before she was horrifically shot dead while livestreaming.
The model, 23, was killed when a man entered her beauty salon in Mexico “and fired a gun at her”, according to prosecutors.
Jam PressValeria Marquez, 23, was fatally shot on Tuesday while livestreaming on TikTok from her beauty salon in Guadalajara, Jalisco[/caption]
Jam PressValeria Marquez had nearly 200,000 followers on social media[/caption]
Jam PressMarquez was killed on May 13 in the beauty salon where she worked in the city of Zapopan by a man who entered and shot her, said prosecutors[/caption]
Jam PressShe had been heard saying in her final moments, “they’re coming,” before a voice in the background of the broadcast asked “hey, Vale?”[/caption]
The social media influencer was brazenly shot to death during a TikTok livestream on Tuesday in the beauty salon where she worked in the city of Zapopan, in the state of Jalisco.
According to the Jalisco Prosecutor’s Office, she had been filming at Blossom The Beauty Lounge when a man entered the establishment and fired three shots at her with a firearm.
She was fatally shot in her chest and head.
And it appears that Marquez had predicted her own death, according to media reports.
She was allegedly slayed by a man pretending to bring her a gift.
Global News described the death as a “brazen killing which has sent shockwaves through Mexico.”
Her killing is being treated as a femicide, the prosecutors said in a statement on Tuesday evening.
Marquez was slaughtered days after another woman – a mayoral candidate in the state of Veracruz – was also fatally shot during a Facebook livestream, alongside three other people, reported CNN.
In her final haunting TikTok video, Marquez was seen sitting at a table while posing in front of a mirror, and holding a stuffed pink pig toy.
She told fans that someone had visited the salon when she was not there, with an “expensive gift” for her.
Mexican newspaper Zeta reported that a TikTok user had warned her via the livestream to be alert, as she would receive a series of gifts.
It added that the last of these would be “the most expensive of all,” to which Marquez reacted with emotion.
“Dude, maybe they were going to kill me,” the young woman had hauntingly predicted.
Zeta’s article added, “The first gift was flowers, and the second a stuffed animal. The third appeared to be murder.”
Aljazeera reported that earlier in the same video, Marquez had said, “I was doing some things today, and Erika called me and said, ‘Hey, babe, they’re bringing you something, and I don’t know what, but they want to give it to you.’
“I said, ‘Oh, I’ll be there in about an hour,’ and the delivery guy said, ‘I’d better wait for her because it’s really expensive.’
Prosecutor’s statement on the death of Mexican influencer Valeria Marquez
Statement from the Jalisco state prosecutor’s office on the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Mexican influencer, Valeria Marquez:
“The State Attorney General’s Office is conducting an investigation in accordance with the femicide protocol, with the goal of clarifying the death of a 23-year-old woman, reported today [May 13] in western Zapopan.
“The incident was reported at approximately 6:30 p.m. inside a beauty salon located on Avenida Servidor Público in the Colonia Real del Carmen neighborhood.
“Municipal Police officers responded to the scene after receiving a report through the 911 emergency service, confirming the victim’s death.
“Paramedics who also arrived at the scene confirmed that the woman no longer had vital signs.
“According to initial investigations, she was at her establishment when a man entered the premises and apparently fired a firearm at her, killing her.
“The victim is a person with an active presence and influence on social media.
“A Public Prosecutor’s Office agent, in coordination with investigative police officers, is on the scene gathering testimony and evidence, which will be incorporated into the corresponding investigation file in order to clarify the events and identify the person or persons responsible.
“Experts from the Jalisco Institute of Forensic Sciences are processing the scene, securing and collecting evidence.
“The body will be transported by Forensic Medical Service personnel to their facilities, where an autopsy will be performed, and official identification by family members is awaited.
“It should be noted that the information contained herein is preliminary and strictly informative in nature and is therefore subject to change as the investigation progresses.
“It should not be construed as a definitive conclusion regarding the facts or as a judicial decision, which will be the responsibility of the competent authority.”
It’s not clear who “Erika” was.
“Who’s going to give me something?” she also asked in the video.
During the live broadcast, the model talked about a mystery man who had apparently arrived to pick her up. However, Marquez emphasized that his face was not visible.
UPSET
The TikTok star – known for her videos about beauty and makeup – then mentioned that she’d better leave the store, “because I’m already upset.”
Global News said that Marquez had “appeared concerned when telling the story, and said she was not planning to wait for the person to come back.”
It’s incredible that you’re making a video and then you’re murdered
Another woman who was with Marquez then told her someone had entered the salon, and was speaking about the delivery of a package.
But the friend had reportedly told him that Marquez was not in the salon at that moment.
The woman told Marquez that the alleged delivery man had refused to leave the package, because he had asked for a photo of her receiving it.
Marquez was then heard saying, “They’re coming,” before a voice off-camera asked, “Hey, Vale?”
“Yes,” Marquez responded.
Zeta reported that it was at that moment that the mystery man arrived again looking for the young woman.
“She turned off her cell phone’s microphone and was shot to death seconds later, until someone else ended the live broadcast.”
MOTORCYCLIST
The New York Post said that the gunman had allegedly pulled up outside the salon on a motorbike and opened fire at her.
The killer reportedly then entered Marquez’s salon and fired another round before fleeing the bloody scene – as his victim collapsed.
During the final moments of the distressing broadcast, the victim was seen grabbing her chest and stomach before she collapsed in her chair.
Another woman grabbed Marquez’s phone before the live broadcast was turned off.
SUSPECT
Infobae, an Argentinian online newspaper, reported that a man has been named on social media as the prime suspect in the murder of Marquez.
It added, “the leader of the Elite Group of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) has allegedly been in a relationship with Valeria Marquez for several months.”
However, investigators told Infobae that, despite rumors about the alleged killer, “that name is not formally included in the file, nor has it been mentioned in testimony.”
The prosecutor’s office said in a statement that she was found dead upon the arrival of paramedics.
CRIMINAL GROUPS
Marquez had about 200,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok.
Publication El Financiero said that in 2021, Marquez was crowned Miss Rostro, a local beauty contest.
CBS News reported that no motive for her death has been publicised.
However, “the region is a hotbed of criminal activity, home to one of Mexico’s most violent drug trafficking groups, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel,” it added.
Investigators have found no evidence that a criminal group was behind the shooting, said state security coordinator Roberto Alarcon.
Zapopan mayor Juan Jose Frangie said, “It’s incredible that you’re making a video and then you’re murdered.
“A femicide is the worst thing.”
The United Nations said that about 10 women or girls are murdered every day in Mexico.
Local activist Norma Andrade told the UN, “As my granddaughter would sum it up: we are worth a peanut – which in other words means that a woman is just disposable.”
Jam PressMarquez was broadcasting to her large audience when the fatal attack occurred[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
