Killing of Valeria Márquez
Killing of Mexican influencer (2002–2025)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Atziri Valeria Márquez López,[2] commonly known as Valeria Márquez (14 February 2002 – 13 May 2025) was a Mexican model, businesswoman, and digital content creator.[3] She gained recognition on social media through her lifestyle-oriented posts and later established a beauty salon in the city of Zapopan, Jalisco. She was shot and killed while live streaming on TikTok in her beauty salon.[4]
Valeria Márquez | |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 February 2002 Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico |
| Died | 13 May 2025 (aged 23) Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico |
Cause of death | Gunshot wound |
Burial place | Parque Funeral Colonias[1] (in Zapopan) |
| Occupations | Influencer, model, businesswoman |
| Years active | 2021–2025 |
Career
Márquez's modeling career began in 2018, at the age of 16,[5] when she was selected as a model for the Mexican clothing brand Vicio Vanidad. In 2021, she earned the title of "Miss Rostro".[6][7] Márquez participated in advertising-campaigns for brands such as the jewelry brand Golden Deluxe and the shapewear company Beauty Body Level, both based in Guadalajara.[8] Márquez began posting on social media in the late 2010s. Márquez also modeled for local campaigns and boutiques, solidifying her image as an influencer among youth audiences in western Mexico.[9] Her visual style combined modern aesthetics with traditional Mexican design elements, attracting the attention of various brands.[10] Márquez studied dentistry before embarking on her career in cosmetology.[11][12] In 2024, Márquez opened her own beauty salon in the municipality of Zapopan, Jalisco.[13][14]
Murder and investigation
Márquez was shot dead on 13 May 2025, at the age of 23, at her beauty salon in Zapopan, while broadcasting live on TikTok.[6] She was held in her salon by an alleged delivery man (whose face was covered by a mask)[15] who shot her in the chest and head while streaming live.[16] Earlier during the livestream, Márquez expressed concern about her safety.[17] A few seconds after she was killed, Márquez's phone was taken and the live broadcast was stopped by an employee.[18][19] The Jalisco Prosecutor's Office stated that at the time of the crime, two men were present outside the beauty salon, who then fled.[20][21]
The autopsy confirmed Márquez died from the gunshot wounds,[22] and an investigation of alleged femicide were opened, as stated by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who also sent her condolences to Márquez's family.[18] On 16 May, the Jalisco prosecutor's office announced that it would summon Márquez's friends and family members as witnesses,[23][24] and the police stated they were investigating more than one suspect.[25][21] Soon after her death, tributes of flowers were placed outside Márquez's beauty salon.[26] Some time after her burial, her tomb was vandalized.[1][27] Márquez's Tiktok account was closed shortly after her killing.[15]
On June 18, 2025, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned five senior members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) for drug trafficking and violence; Márquez's killing was noted as an example of Mexico’s ongoing femicide crisis. Among the cartel members sanctioned was Ricardo Ruiz Velasco, a suspect in the killing.[28][29]