Valeria Marquez was killed in one of the most public ways possible, while livestreaming to TikTok. In a brutal murder that appears to be a case of femicide, she was shot right there while her followers watched in horror.
What Happened to Valeria Marquez
Valeria Marquez was a 23-year-old beauty influencer, and she was streaming to TikTok from her salon in Guadalajara, Mexico. A pair of men stopped a motorbike outside, then one of them, wearing a mask, came in and asked if she was Valeria. Then he shot her and fled. The stream continued until another woman stopped it. A spokesman for the Jalisco State Prosecutor’s Office, Denis Rodríguez, confirmed the information.
Though her TikTok account seems to be gone, the video of the killing of Valeria Marquez has continued to appear online. In the video, you can see her in front of the camera, holding a stuffed animal, then she turns away before holding her chest and stomach as she collapses in the chair. She was still in the chair, holding the toy, when the investigators got there. Since the killer had to confirm who she was, they believed they didn’t know her personally.
Violence Against Women in Mexico
Though Mexico has been enacting laws to combat violence against women, the large numbers of femicides continue. It’s attributed to the “machismo” culture. Dr. Paulina García-Del Moral, of the University of Guelph, said,
“There’s still a sense of entitlement among a lot of men in Mexico — and elsewhere in Latin America and the world — they feel entitled to women’s bodies. It’s proven to be very resilient and resistant to change.”
In a December 5, 2024, article, the United Nations reported that, since 2001, 50,000 women had been murdered in Mexico. And, only a very small percentage of those cases end up with a criminal sentence.
On Sunday, May 11, during a campaign march, mayoral candidate Yesenia Lara Gutiérrez was walking with supporters, greeting residents. This was all being streamed live when gunshots were heard. Gutiérrez and three other people were killed, and three more were wounded. This was just a few days before Valeria Marquez was murdered.
Wrap Up
It’s 2025, and women are still facing violence simply because we are women. All too often, the victim is blamed because of her appearance, clothing, something she did, or said. What is the answer? How can we make sure there is justice for victims of these crimes? These are wicked problems that have existed for so long. Our condolences go out to those who are mourning the loss of another person gone too soon.
