Key Takeaways
- TikTok beauty influencer Valeria Márquez was murdered during a livestream in her Zapopan salon, with authorities investigating her death as femicide.
- Ricardo Ruiz Velazco, known as “El Doble RR” and allegedly a high-ranking cartel figure, has been named as the primary suspect and was reportedly Márquez’s ex-partner.
- Despite Márquez previously warning about threats from her ex-partner through Instagram Stories, no formal police reports were filed before her murder.
The violent end of 23-year-old beauty influencer Valeria Márquez has sent shockwaves across Mexico and social media worldwide after she was gunned down during a live TikTok broadcast on Tuesday.
Authorities are now reportedly focusing on one man: Ricardo Ruiz Velazco, a high-ranking cartel figure and her alleged ex-partner.
Márquez was k*lled inside her beauty salon in Zapopan, Jalisco, in a chilling crime being investigated as femicide, a gender-based killing.
A Livestream Turns Fatal
Valeria’s final moments were captured live on TikTok. Sitting at a table holding a stuffed toy, she appeared uneasy.
“They’re coming,” she whispered, responding with a quiet “Yes” when someone off-camera called, “Hey, Vale?,” before muting the audio.
Moments later, gunshots rang out, and the screen went black.
Authorities from the Jalisco state prosecutor’s office confirmed that a man posing as a delivery person entered the salon and fatally shot her.
She reportedly sustained two gunshot wounds to the head and one to the chest. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Main Suspect: ‘El Doble RR’
By Wednesday, reports from Milenio and other Mexican outlets named Ricardo Ruiz Velazco, also known as “El Doble RR,” “RR,” or “El Tripa,” as the main suspect in the murder.
Velazco is reportedly a leader of an elite unit within the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of the most feared criminal organizations in the country.
Citing sources within the Jalisco prosecutor’s office, the media reported that Velazco had been in a months-long relationship with Márquez, which had reportedly turned toxic and violent.
He was allegedly angered by expensive gifts Márquez received from fans, including one posted just hours before her demise.
In earlier Instagram stories, Márquez claimed to have received threats from her ex-partner.
She wrote:
“He was my current partner with whom I lived. That’s why I say he is my ‘ex.’ I hold that person responsible for anything that happens to me and my family — even if I have to leave the city.”
Via Instagram Stories
Zapopan Mayor Juan José Frangie confirmed, despite these warnings, that no formal reports had been filed with police prior to her murder.
Valeria Márquez was an entrepreneur and beauty creator who owned and operated Blossom the Beauty Lounge.
A finalist in beauty pageants like Miss Rostro, she has built a loyal following thanks to her charisma, talent, and authenticity.
Since her demise, Márquez’s Instagram follower count has surged, and fans, fellow creators, and women’s rights advocates have expressed grief.
A Chilling Pattern Of Violence
Ricardo Ruiz Velazco’s name is not new to Mexican law enforcement.
He has reportedly been linked to multiple high-profile murders, including:
Daisy Ferrer Arenas (2012): A Venezuelan woman whose remains were discovered in a Guadalajara sewage canal.
José de Jesús Gallegos Álvarez (2013): Mexico’s Secretary of Tourism, reportedly murdered in a targeted hit.
Juan Luis Lagunas (2017): A social media star known as “El Pirata de Culiacán” was shot d*ad in a bar after allegedly insulting “El Mencho,” the elusive CJNG leader.
Authorities have yet to confirm whether Velazco has been formally charged or arrested in connection with Márquez’s murder.
The investigation remains ongoing, but the case has sparked outrage, fear, and renewed debate about gender-based violence and impunity in Mexico.
