Costa Rican TikTok creator Gabriela de los Ángeles Sanarrusia Chavarría, 28, and her partner Jorge Isaac Agüero Corea, 30, were shot and killed by armed intruders inside their home in La Cruz, Guanacaste, on Saturday, July 4, 2026, while the couple slept, according to the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ). Multiple gunmen forced entry into the residence in the early morning hours and opened fire in the bedroom, leaving both victims with multiple gunshot wounds. They were pronounced dead at the scene. No arrests have been made as of the latest updates.
The gunmen forced their way into the private home and opened fire on the sleeping pair in the bedroom. Reports indicate that multiple shots were fired, leaving the victims inside the residence. After the assault the intruders fled the property, and investigators later located a burned white vehicle approximately two kilometers away that they believe was used in the getaway. Judicial authorities in Costa Rica have focused on the physical evidence from inside the home to reconstruct the events of that early morning.
Sanarrusia Chavarría, known publicly as Gaby Sanarrucia, built a following of more than 100,000 across TikTok and Instagram by posting about lifestyle topics, beauty routines, travel, and family life with her 9-year-old daughter. She and Agüero Corea lived together as partners and had recently returned from a trip to Colombia where she celebrated her birthday on June 27 with family members. Their relationship appeared close, and he had accompanied her during at least one earlier incident in which she survived an armed ambush. She had also previously endured another shooting in the region that left others injured or killed while she escaped harm, according to The Tab’s reporting on the prior attacks. Her content can be viewed on her TikTok profile (@gabysanarrucia27) and Instagram account (@sanarruciagaby).
Her former partner Juan Carlos Cruz was killed along with two other men in a 2024 shooting in the same La Cruz area, an event that authorities linked to disputes involving alleged criminal activity. These earlier episodes of violence around individuals connected to Sanarrusia Chavarría are part of the context investigators are weighing as they examine whether the July 4 attack may have been targeted. The OIJ’s primary hypothesis is revenge or a settling of scores, while investigators also have not ruled out that Sanarrusia may have been deliberately silenced for her role as a witness in other violent incidents in the area, according to Q Costa Rica’s coverage of the OIJ investigation.
The ongoing probe is being handled by Costa Rica’s OIJ, which has not publicly identified any suspects or made arrests as of the latest updates. Multiple armed men are believed to have carried out the shooting, but no names or descriptions beyond that have been released. Authorities are exploring connections to prior violence while emphasizing that the exact motive remains under active review. Community members and online followers have shared condolences, particularly for the young daughter left behind by the tragedy, as covered by People’s coverage of the public response.
This case draws attention to the dangers that can follow content creators who share aspects of their personal lives online while residing in areas where violent crime persists. The loss of a mother in one household leaves a child to face an uncertain future and underscores the human consequences that extend beyond any single incident. Travelers and residents planning time in Costa Rica can consult the U.S. State Department’s Costa Rica travel advisory for current guidance on local conditions. As the investigation progresses, the focus remains on delivering answers and accountability for those affected by the violence.
