The person believed to be responsible for the murder of a beauty influencer, who was fatally shot while broadcasting live, reportedly left a bunch of red roses and a disturbing note outside the salon where she worked.
TikTok star Valeria Marquez, 23, was killed when a man entered her beauty salon in Mexico “and fired a gun at her”, according to prosecutors.
The influencer met a brazen death during a live stream on TikTok on a fateful Tuesday at the beauty salon in Zapopan, Jalisco.
As per reports from the Jalisco Prosecutor’s Office, she was recording at Blossom The Beauty Lounge when an individual walked in and shot her three times with a gun.
Just days after her tragic death, a mysterious bouquet of red roses was left outside the shop on Thursday with a chilling note.
The flowers were left in a vase with a ribbon and were packed in black decorative paper.
They were accompanied by a note that simply said: “Sorry.”
The bouquet was considered suspicious and is thought to have been left by the suspected killer.
Cops rushed to the scene to gather evidence and remove it from the scene.
Marquez was fatally shot in her chest and head – allegedly by a man pretending to bring her a gift.
Harrowing footage showed the moments before Márquez’s death.
Disturbing images showed her scanning the entrance to her shop before looking down at bullet wounds on her body.
She then appeared to suffer a fatal headshot.
Terrified viewers tuned in to the livestream at the time were left stunned, with many refusing to believe it was real at first.
The suspect was seen fleeing the scene on a motorbike with an accomplice.
Paramedics rushed to the scene shortly after, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Local media speculated that the two people arrived outside her salon pretending to be deliverymen.
The suspected shooter told her he had an “expensive gift” for her before allegedly opening fire.
Márquez had 84,000 followers on Instagram, where she also shared beauty content and comedy clips for her fans.
The original footage of her liverstream has since been removed from her page.
Cops shut off the area around the victim’s shop to collect evidence.
They have since launched a probe and a manhunt is underway.
The prosecutor’s office said: “According to the initial investigation, she was in her establishment when a man entered and apparently shot her several times with a firearm, killing her.”
Infobae, an Argentinian online newspaper, reported that a man has been named on social media as the prime suspect in the murder of Marquez.
It added, “the leader of the Elite Group of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) has allegedly been in a relationship with Valeria Marquez for several months.”
However, investigators told Infobae that, despite rumors about the alleged killer, “that name is not formally included in the file, nor has it been mentioned in testimony.”
The prosecutor’s office said in a statement that she was found dead upon the arrival of paramedics.
Mexico has the second highest number of femicides in Latin America, according to the UN.
In December, a TikTok star and model was shot dead outside a gym reportedly in a targeted attack in Tijuana, Mexico.
Fedra Oded Gaxiola Orozco, 24, was gunned down in broad daylight while sitting in her black Mercedes Benz.
Prosecutor’s statement on the death of Mexican influencer Valeria Marquez
Statement from the Jalisco state prosecutor’s office on the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Mexican influencer, Valeria Marquez:
“The State Attorney General’s Office is conducting an investigation in accordance with the femicide protocol, with the goal of clarifying the death of a 23-year-old woman, reported today [May 13] in western Zapopan.
“The incident was reported at approximately 6:30 p.m. inside a beauty salon located on Avenida Servidor Público in the Colonia Real del Carmen neighborhood.
“Municipal Police officers responded to the scene after receiving a report through the 911 emergency service, confirming the victim’s death.
“Paramedics who also arrived at the scene confirmed that the woman no longer had vital signs.
“According to initial investigations, she was at her establishment when a man entered the premises and apparently fired a firearm at her, killing her.
“The victim is a person with an active presence and influence on social media.
“A Public Prosecutor’s Office agent, in coordination with investigative police officers, is on the scene gathering testimony and evidence, which will be incorporated into the corresponding investigation file in order to clarify the events and identify the person or persons responsible.
“Experts from the Jalisco Institute of Forensic Sciences are processing the scene, securing and collecting evidence.
“The body will be transported by Forensic Medical Service personnel to their facilities, where an autopsy will be performed, and official identification by family members is awaited.
“It should be noted that the information contained herein is preliminary and strictly informative in nature and is therefore subject to change as the investigation progresses.
“It should not be construed as a definitive conclusion regarding the facts or as a judicial decision, which will be the responsibility of the competent authority.”
