Venezuelan Influencer Shot Dead on TikTok Live After Exposing Gang Extortion
In a shocking and tragic incident, Venezuelan TikTok influencer Jesús Sarmiento was fatally shot during a live stream after speaking out against powerful gangs and corrupt officials allegedly extorting him.
Sarmiento, who had more than 87,000 followers on TikTok, was broadcasting live on Sunday, June 22, when armed attackers stormed his home. The horrifying video captured the moment shots rang out, with Sarmiento’s voice heard saying, “They shot me, they shot me,” as blood pooled on the floor.
Moments later, gunmen appeared in the frame and fired again at the 25-year-old influencer before the live stream abruptly ended. Reports from El País indicate Sarmiento was shot at least nine times.
His mother, who was also present during the attack, could be heard crying for help. She reportedly suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen but survived the ordeal.
Sarmiento had spent the hours before his death posting videos accusing police officers, government officials, and gang members of extorting him. Among those he named were Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, Aragua Governor Johana Sánchez, and leaders of the notorious Tren de Aragua gang, including the feared fugitive Héctor Rutherford Guerrero Flores, also known as Niño Guerrero.
The Tren de Aragua gang has been linked to serious crimes across Latin America and is considered a terrorist group by U.S. authorities, although Venezuelan officials deny its existence.
Sarmiento had also received threats from individuals at La Morita prison, where he had recently been detained. His live broadcast was reportedly intended as a plea for protection, with the influencer tagging law enforcement agencies as he streamed.
