A popular TikTok influencer was gunned down in a shocking attack while broadcasting live from her beauty salon. Valeria Marquez, 23, was fatally shot on May 13, 2025, around 6:30 p.m. at Blossom the Beauty Lounge in Zapopan, Jalisco. The incident, captured on camera, has sent shockwaves through her community and beyond.
The shooting was taking place while Valeria was streaming live for nearly 200,000 people on TikTok. She was sitting at a table, clutching a stuffed animal that had been handed to her, when the gunman came riding on a motorcycle. He walked into the salon, queried if it was Valeria, and when she affirmed, opened fire, shooting at her chest and head. She was killed instantly. Another female witness cut off the live stream, but viewers had already seen the devastating moment.
The male perpetrator escaped on his motorcycle and is still on the loose. The authorities have initiated a manhunt, but no arrests have been reported as of 15th May 2025. The Jalisco Attorney General’s Office is investigating the crime as femicide, a term employed by Mexico for gender-based violence-related killings of women. This indicates that the murder was possibly carried out due to personal or gender motives, though the real motive is still uncertain.
Valeria Marquez was more than an internet celebrity. With more than 100,000 followers on Instagram, she was an aspiring entrepreneur who was the owner of the salon at which she was murdered. Her beauty and makeup-themed content had gained the devotion of a loyal following. Hours before being attacked, she took a selfie at work and sponsored an underwear line, oblivious to the fate that lay ahead.
In the days before her death, Valeria had spoken to friends about fears for her safety. She spoke of a turbulent relationship with an ex-boyfriend who had harassed and threatened her, and there is now the possibility for a motive for the attack. Though the police have not verified it, the fears add an unsettling depth to the inquiry.
This brutal murder has reopened discussions about Mexico’s femicide epidemic. Thousands of women are killed annually within the country, and most have never been solved. Valeria’s killing, live-streamed, has intensified the demand for justice and better protections for women. Her case symbolizes the risks faced by women, even when they are under the observation of the world.
While continuing the hunt for the gunman, Valeria’s salon remains a grim reminder of the brutality that took her life. Her online and offline followers are mourning the untimely death of a young woman who had a bright future ahead.
