Crime
Leaked Messages Between Coworker and Friend Reveal Chilling Setup in Murder of Influencer Valeria Marquez
JALISCO, Mexico — Popular social media influencer Valeria Marquez was tragically killed on May 13 while broadcasting a livestream to her followers from the salon where she worked.
The 23-year-old was gunned down inside Blossom the Beauty Lounge in Jalisco, in an apparent ambush that authorities are now investigating as a femicide.
Marquez, who had nearly 200,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok, was known for her beauty tutorials, lifestyle content, and modeling posts.
On the day of her death, she was live on social media when a man posing as a gift delivery person arrived at the salon.
Moments later, he opened fire, striking her twice in the head and once in the chest, killing her instantly.
Several of her followers reportedly witnessed the horrifying incident as it unfolded on camera.
According to the Jalisco State Attorney General’s Office, the murder is being investigated as femicide, a classification used when women are targeted and killed because of their gender.
Authorities are now focused on unraveling the circumstances leading up to the attack — and disturbing new evidence suggests Marquez may have been set up by individuals close to her.
Emerging evidence includes leaked private messages between two women allegedly linked to Marquez: Erika, who worked with her and was present during the livestream, and Viviana, a friend who had reportedly sent Marquez a coffee and a stuffed animal earlier in the day.
Screenshots of their conversation, allegedly captured shortly before the murder, raise suspicions of a coordinated setup:
- Erika: “Everything has to go well, you understand? You don’t know the amount of trouble you’ll be in if it doesn’t go as planned.”
- Viviana: “Vivi, I’m afraid. What if they do something to me too?”
- Erika: “They won’t do anything to you. Just make sure you’re not next to her when they get there. Turn off her phone when they arrive.”
- Viviana: “Okay, I trust you, but all of this scares me.”
These chilling messages suggest that Marquez was lured into staying at the salon under the pretense of receiving an “expensive gift” — a ploy that allegedly culminated in her execution-style killing.
Witness accounts confirm that Erika, who was with Marquez before and during the livestream, abruptly ended the broadcast moments after the shots were fired.
Police have not yet announced any arrests, but are actively pursuing leads based on digital communications, witness testimony, and surveillance footage.
Authorities are working to verify the authenticity of the leaked messages and determine the roles of the individuals involved.
Valeria Marquez’s death has sparked outrage across social media platforms, with many demanding justice for the young influencer and drawing attention to the ongoing crisis of gender-based violence in Mexico.
Anyone with information related to the case is urged to contact local authorities.
Crime
Victims Identified in Deadly Robeson County Mass Shooting
Two Dead, 13 Injured in Mass Shooting at Large Party in Robeson County, North Carolina
ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. — A late-night party in eastern North Carolina turned deadly early Sunday morning when gunfire erupted, leaving two people dead and 13 others injured, according to the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Burnis Wilkins confirmed that deputies were called to the scene on Dixon Drive, just outside the town of Maxton, at approximately 3:00 a.m. following reports of a shooting at a large outdoor gathering attended by more than 150 people.
When deputies arrived, chaos had already unfolded — witnesses said over 150 individuals fled the area before law enforcement could secure the scene.
Authorities identified the deceased victims as Jessie Locklear and his son.
Several other victims sustained critical injuries and were transported to area hospitals for emergency treatment.
Sheriff Wilkins stated that, based on preliminary findings, the shooting appears to have been an isolated incident, and there is no ongoing threat to the wider community.
The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from multiple agencies, continues to investigate the circumstances that led to the violence.
Detectives are working to determine the motive and identify all parties involved.
Authorities are urging anyone with information—or anyone who attended the gathering and witnessed the incident—to contact the Robeson County Sheriff’s Investigators at 910-671-3100.
“We know there were many people present when this occurred,” Sheriff Wilkins said. “If you saw something or know something, we need you to come forward to help bring justice to the victims and their families.”