Influencer Gabriel Sarmiento Gunned Down Mid-Livestream After Exposing Gangs
etimes.in
/ Jun 25, 2025, 01:54PM IST
A Venezuelan influencer was killed on TikTok Live after repeatedly speaking out against gangs and corrupt police. Gabriel Jesús Sarmiento, 25, was mid-livestream when gunmen opened fire — the moment was captured on camera. Authorities confirmed the case is under investigation, and family members say he received prior death threats. The shocking footage and its aftermath have sparked online outrage, raising serious questions about freedom of speech, law enforcement, and gang violence in Venezuela.
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NDTV
5 hours ago
- NDTV
Venezuela Influencer, Who Publicly Denounced Gangs And Police, Shot Dead On Livestream
Officials in Venezuela have launched an investigation into the death of a 25-year-old TikTok influencer who was allegedly killed while on a livestream by armed men. According to CBS News, Jesus Sarmiento, who had nearly 80,000 followers on TikTok, was killed on Sunday in his home, located in the north-central Venezuelan city of Maracay. His death was captured on a TikTok livestream, which was later reshared by other TikTok users and went viral in the country. In the clip, a woman could be reportedly heard screaming and banging on a door as two armed gunmen rounded the corner and shot the man. "They shot me, they shot me," Sarmiento says, as blood is visible on the floor, as per CBS News. Venezuela's Attorney General Tarek William Saab announced on Instagram in a translated post that the prosecutor's office has been tasked with investigating the death of 25-year-old TikTok influencer and identifying and punishing those involved. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Fiscal General de Venezuela 🇻🇪 (@mpublicove) According to the outlet, Sarmiento's death comes after he had publicly denounced officials who allegedly colluded with local criminal organisations and committed other acts of corruption. In one of his posts, the 25-year-old spoke about the leader of the Tren de Aragua, Hector Rusthenford Guerrero, who is one of the country's most wanted criminals known by the alias "Nino Guerrero". The Venezuelan government has maintained that the Tren de Aragua, which the US considers a "terrorist" organisation, has already been dismantled and denies its existence. However, on TikTok, Sarmiento shared photos and videos of alleged members of the gang and denounced the "extortion" by police officers. According to People, he also stated that he was being threatened by gangs, including "El Tren de Aragua" and "El Tren del Llano". "I was kidnapped by... DAET - the police's Directorate of Strategic and Tactical Actions," he stated in one of his final videos. "We are overrun with delinquent officials who work with common criminals," he added. Sarmiento's family claimed that over the weekend, the 25-year-old had been shot at least nine times by the gunmen, and the woman who was also heard screaming in the clip, who was identified as the influencer's mother, was wounded in the abdomen.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
Influencer Gabriel Sarmiento Gunned Down Mid-Livestream After Exposing Gangs
/ Jun 25, 2025, 01:54PM IST A Venezuelan influencer was killed on TikTok Live after repeatedly speaking out against gangs and corrupt police. Gabriel Jesús Sarmiento, 25, was mid-livestream when gunmen opened fire — the moment was captured on camera. Authorities confirmed the case is under investigation, and family members say he received prior death threats. The shocking footage and its aftermath have sparked online outrage, raising serious questions about freedom of speech, law enforcement, and gang violence in Venezuela.
Mint
12 hours ago
- Mint
Venezuelan TikTok influencer shot dead during livestream after criticising gangs, police
A 25-year-old Venezuelan TikTok influencer was shot dead during a livestream, moments after reportedly speaking out against organised criminal gangs and their alleged ties with law enforcement. The horrifying incident, which unfolded in real time on social media, is now under investigation by Venezuela's Attorney General. Gabriel Jesús Sarmiento, known for his bold commentary on corruption and gang activity, was allegedly attacked by two gunmen at his home in Venezuela while he was live on TikTok. According to People, the country's Attorney General, Tarek William Saab, confirmed the investigation and stated that the matter is being handled by the Public Prosecutor's Office. In his videos, Sarmiento frequently criticised the influence of gangs like 'El Tren de Aragua' and 'El Tren del Llano,' and had alleged that some police officers were colluding with these criminal groups. Authorities noted that Sarmiento had previously reported threats from gang members and certain individuals posing as police. Disturbing footage from the livestream shows a woman, identified as his mother, screaming and banging on a door. Moments later, a man is heard asking what happened before Sarmiento yells, 'They shot me!' The stream abruptly ends after two armed men briefly appear on screen. His family claims he was shot at least nine times. His mother was also injured in the attack, reportedly shot in the abdomen. The video has since been widely circulated on social media, sparking outrage and drawing attention to growing concerns around safety, censorship, and gang violence in parts of Latin America. Local media reports suggest the killing may have been linked to Sarmiento's outspoken criticism of criminal networks and his allegations against corrupt officials. The White House has designated Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organisation, with US officials describing it as a 'regime-sponsored narco-terrorism enterprise' operating out of Venezuela. The group has been accused of carrying out brutal crimes, including murder, kidnapping, extortion, and trafficking of humans, drugs, and weapons, the People reported.
