Kaylah Walton
The inquiry into the live-streamed assassination of beauty influencer Valeria Marquez is still ongoing, with investigators in Jalisco pursuing leads that suggest the involvement of a hired gun, based on the evidence collected so far.
Valeria Marquez was fatally shot while broadcasting from her beauty establishment in Zapopan, Jalisco. The shocking incident unfolded before her audience and stirred a significant outcry on social media, reigniting discussions around gender violence and organized crime within the nation.
The incident occurred at Blossom The Beauty Lounge, a beauty clinic situated within a shopping complex in the Jardines del Valle area. Marquez was interacting with her followers when she suddenly glanced toward the entrance. Moments later, an armed individual entered and shot her without uttering a word, only asking: “Are you Valeria?” to which she nodded before being shot multiple times.
Earlier that day, Marquez had voiced her concerns during another livestream, expressing fatigue and a desire to return home, alarming her audience with comments suggesting she felt threatened, stating she sensed that “someone was going to kill her.” Despite her apprehensions, she opted to remain livestreaming, anticipating an “expensive gift” that a viewer had promised her.
Updates from the Jalisco Prosecutor’s Office on the case
Denis Rodriguez, spokesperson for the Jalisco Prosecutor’s Office, provided an update on the case last Thursday. He mentioned that prior to the murder, two men were observed arriving at the location: one disguised in a mask pretending to deliver something, while the other waited on a motorcycle. A witness reported that both were adamant about delivering a luxurious item intended for Marquez.
Upon hearing that someone was looking for her, Marquez was visibly frightened, a feeling that was evident in her earlier broadcast.
When the men later returned, they inquired if Marquez was present, which raised suspicions amongst the investigators, leading them to believe they were likely assassins, noted Rodriguez.
“The intruder asked for the victim by name. It appears he wasn’t familiar with her,” stated Rodriguez, adding that this suggests he was likely hired for this purpose.
Authorities are treating the case as a potential femicide, while also exploring its connections to organized crime. Unofficial sources have suggested that the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) may be involved, with Ricardo Ruiz Velasco, commonly known as “El Doble R”, believed to be the one who orchestrated the attack.
