The murder of influencer César Gastélum has once again brought attention to the violent string of crimes that has struck content creators amidst the Sinaloa Cartel’s internal war. With his murder, which occurred on the night of Tuesday, August 4th in Culiacán, the number of influencers killed since the dispute between Los Chapitos and La Mayiza began in September 2024 has reached at least ten.
Although speculation arose on social media about a possible link to the drug cartel flyers that included a list of artists and influencers, allegedly linked to drug trafficking, which were dropped over Culiacán in January 2025, Gastélum’s case stands apart from others.
On the night of Tuesday, August 4, Gastélum was at the exit of the KFC drive-thru located on Enrique Sánchez Alonso Boulevard, near the corner of Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, in the Tres Ríos Urban Development, 500 meters from the Sinaloa State Attorney General’s Office building. He and his companions were dressed as food delivery drivers, as part of a challenge for his social media content.
