On May 13, Mexican influencer Valeria Márquez was tragically shot and killed while live streaming on her TikTok account from her business, "Blossom The Beauty Lounge," located in the town of Zapopan, Jalisco. At just 23 years of age, Valeria was interacting with her followers when she engaged in conversation off-camera with a supposed delivery man. Moments later, she was fatally shot, sustaining gunshot wounds to both her chest and head.
This horrific act has sent shockwaves throughout Mexico, particularly among her vast online following—over 100,000 on Instagram and more than 101,000 on TikTok. Her last social media post, a selfie in a pink bodysuit featured in a recent ad collaboration, was shared just before the attack. In the wake of her death, her posts have become inundated with messages of grief, inquiries, and speculation. Comments like “Valeria, say it’s a joke”; “Investigate her last boyfriend. He got her kicked out of a club”; and “What incredible beauty and what an unjust ending” are among the sentiments left by devastated fans.
The Jalisco State Attorney General's Office has initiated an investigation under the protocol for femicide, a classification used when a woman is murdered due to gender-based violence. A close friend of Valeria, who was present in the salon, ended the live stream after the attack. However, some users have called for an investigation into another acquaintance, identified as Vivian de la Torre, who allegedly asked Valeria to stay at the location to receive expensive gifts. According to reports by Milenio, the gifts were delivered separately: initially flowers, followed by a stuffed toy, and during the third delivery, the fatal gunshots were fired.
The primary suspect in the murder is Ricardo Ruiz Velazco, also known as Doble R, who was a former partner of the influencer. He is a leader of the Grupo Élite of the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación. Investigations have previously linked him to the 2012 murder of a Venezuelan woman and the 2017 killing of the influencer known as El Pirata de Culiacán. Despite these links, he was never convicted in those cases.
On the same day as Márquez's murder, former PRI deputy Luis Armando Córdova Díaz was shot and killed in a nearby café. Both crimes occurred in an area dominated by the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación. As of now, no connection between the incidents has been confirmed.
Mexico continues to be one of the countries with the highest rates of femicide in Latin America and the Caribbean. Violence against women remains a grave issue, with alarming statistics and harrowing cases like that of Valeria Márquez, whose tragic death was witnessed by viewers on one of the world's most popular platforms.
Understanding the Tragic Death of Valeria Márquez
Who was Valeria Márquez?
Valeria Márquez was a 23-year-old Mexican influencer with a significant following on TikTok and Instagram. She was known for her beauty content and had a business called "Blossom The Beauty Lounge" in Jalisco, Mexico.
What led to the investigation of this case as a femicide?
The investigation was classified as femicide because Valeria was murdered due to gender-based violence, a serious issue in Mexico where such crimes are prevalent.
Who is suspected of Valeria Márquez's murder?
Ricardo Ruiz Velazco, known as Doble R, a former partner of Valeria and a leader within the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación, is the primary suspect in her murder.