New Delhi, Aug. 6 -- Mexican authorities say they believe that the killing of Cesar Gastelum, a social media influencer who was shot dead during a livestream, was retaliation for social media posts about a criminal group.

Gastelum, who had over 600,000 followers on TikTok, was shot after being approached by two helmeted people on a motorcycle while he was doing a livestream in front of a fast-food restaurant in the northwestern Mexican city of Culiacan.

Gastelum, along with two friends, was dressed as food delivery workers as part of a challenge for the livestream when a motorcycle carrying two people pulled up beside them.

Culiacan is the capital of Sinaloa state, which has been a battleground for warring drug factions, including the ...