Venezuelan Influencer Gabriel Sarmiento Shot Dead on TikTok Livestream After Criticizing Gangs and Police

A Venezuelan social media influencer known for speaking out against gangs and alleged police corruption was shot and killed Monday during a TikTok livestream, according to authorities.

The Ministry of Public Safety confirmed on Instagram that Gabriel Jesús Sarmiento was killed in Maracay, the capital of Venezuela’s Aragua state.

Sarmiento had built a following by openly criticizing criminal organizations and accusing law enforcement of corruption. The ministry noted that his killing came shortly after he reported receiving threats from members of *Grupos Estructurados de Delincuencia Organizada* (Organized Crime Structured Groups) and individuals he claimed were corrupt police officers.

Though Maracay is the stronghold of the infamous Tren de Aragua gang, no direct link has been established between the gang and Sarmiento’s death.

Authorities have tasked the 69th Prosecutor’s Office Against Organized Crime with investigating the killing and bringing those responsible to justice.

A video of Sarmiento’s final livestream, reviewed by CNN, captures a woman screaming in the background as a man frantically asks, “What happened, what happened?” Moments later, gunfire erupts. Sarmiento’s voice is then heard shouting, “They shot me!” before the video shows two unidentified armed men. The livestream cuts off seconds later.

Sarmiento’s murder follows a disturbing trend of violence targeting Latin American influencers. In May, Mexican beauty influencer Valeria Marquez was gunned down inside a salon in Jalisco while livestreaming, sparking widespread outrage. Days earlier, a mayoral candidate in Veracruz was also shot and killed during a livestream alongside three others.

CNN has reached out to Aragua police, Sarmiento’s family, and Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab for comment.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pennsylvania Woman Caught on Camera Defecating on Car in Bizarre Road Rage Incident

Image
A road rage dispute in Pennsylvania took an unexpected and disturbing turn when a woman was filmed defecating on another driver's car, according to local authorities and reports. Christina Solometo, 44, was identified as the woman captured in the viral video, which was recorded by a bystander and shared on Instagram. The footage shows her exiting her vehicle, approaching another car, pulling down her pants, and appearing to relieve herself on the hood. The incident reportedly followed a traffic altercation in which one of the drivers cut the other off. Although the targeted driver did not file a report, police were alerted after the video surfaced online. Following an investigation, Solometo was charged with multiple offenses, including disorderly conduct, indecent exposure, harassment, criminal mischief, and depositing waste on a highway. According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Solometo allegedly told police, “It was a clean poop, I didn’t even have to wipe.” She also cl...
Read more

Hainault Samurai Sword Killer: Police Officer Who Faced Attacker Says He’s ‘No Hero’

Image
The police inspector who confronted Marcus Monzo — the man who murdered 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin with a samurai sword in Hainault, east London — says he doesn’t see himself as a hero. Inspector Moloy Campbell engaged Monzo directly, suffering a slash to his hand as he tried to disarm the attacker. Despite his injuries, Campbell praised his fellow officers, calling their actions “undoubtedly heroic” for stopping the rampage. Speaking to the BBC, Campbell recalled the harrowing events of April 30, 2024. “It’s instinct — fight or flight. In that moment, it was fight,” he said. “There was emotion after it was over, but there was no fear. And I don’t think there was much fear from anyone else either. They’re police officers — taking action is drilled into them. They did it well.” Monzo’s violent spree began just before 7 a.m. when he rammed a van into 33-year-old Donato Iwule before chasing him down and slashing his neck. Moments later, Monzo fatally attacked Daniel Anjorin, who was walki...
Read more