Venezuelan Influencer Gunned Down During TikTok Livestream After Naming Alleged Gang Extortionists

A TikTok video showing when the armed invaders stormed the influencer's residence and shot him

A Venezuelan social media influencer was brutally shot and killed during a TikTok livestream after publicly accusing high-profile gang members and officials of extortion. The murder of 25-year-old Jesus Sarmiento unfolded in real time, shocking his 87,000 followers and prompting a national investigation.

The horrifying incident took place on Sunday when armed men stormed Sarmiento’s residence. Moments before his death, he appeared to be pleading for help from Venezuelan intelligence authorities, sharing his location as blood pooled around him. “They shot me, they shot me,” he muttered on the livestream. Seconds later, two men armed with guns were seen on camera firing additional shots before the stream ended abruptly.

Sarmiento’s mother, who was present during the attack, could be heard banging on doors and screaming for help. Reports confirm she was also shot in the abdomen but survived.

Jesus Sarmiento, 25, had been posting dozens of accusations on his social media hours before his death alleging officials were gang members and he was being extorted by the infamous Tren de Aragua

According to family members, Sarmiento was shot at least nine times. Authorities confirmed that the attack followed a series of explosive social media posts in which he accused government officials and members of Venezuela’s most notorious gangs, including Tren del Llano and Tren de Aragua, of extortion and corruption. He also directly named figures such as Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and Aragua Governor Johana Sánchez in his accusations.

Sarmiento had recently served 15 days in La Morita prison, a Bolivarian Police detention center. According to his posts, he received threats from within the prison, including from individuals tied to organized crime and corrupt police officers. He alleged that members of DAET, Venezuela’s Directorate of Strategic and Tactical Actions, had previously kidnapped him.

The feared leader of the Tren de Aragua gang, Hector Rutherford Guerrero Flores, dubbed the 'Niño Guerrero' or 'warrior boy'

One of his last videos, filmed en route to court in Maracay to report ongoing harassment, was tagged with the usernames of Venezuelan law enforcement agencies. He accused security officials of working in tandem with criminal groups. “We are overrun with delinquent officials who work with common criminals,” he said.

Sarmiento specifically named Héctor Rutherford Guerrero Flores, better known as “Niño Guerrero,” the fugitive leader of Tren de Aragua. Guerrero, one of Venezuela’s most wanted criminals, has been on the run since a military crackdown dismantled his base of operations in Tocorón prison in 2023. Despite government claims that the Tren de Aragua no longer exists, the group remains active and influential, with U.S. authorities designating it a terrorist organization.

More than 250 suspected gang members arrive in El Salvador by plane, including 238 members of Venezuela's Tren de Aragua, after being deported from the US in March

The Venezuelan Public Prosecutor’s Office announced it has launched a formal investigation into Sarmiento’s murder. Attorney General Tarek William Saab confirmed that the office is “tasked with investigating, identifying, and punishing those responsible for the assassination of Jesus Sarmiento.” He also acknowledged that the victim had made public allegations of threats from organized crime groups and corrupt officers.

Sarmiento’s death comes amid wider concerns about the spread of the Tren de Aragua gang, which has reportedly infiltrated the U.S. and spread across at least half of its states. In response, U.S. officials have expedited the deportation of suspected gang members. Earlier this year, hundreds of alleged members were transferred to El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center under the Alien Enemies Act.

In the video footage, two men with guns appear around the corner, seem to shoot the influencer twice as the footage captures a scuffle and then the live-stream ends abruptly

The move, supported by former President Donald Trump and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, sparked protests and legal challenges, with critics condemning the lack of due process. Bukele, widely known for his controversial but popular crackdown on gangs, has faced international criticism from human rights groups.

Sarmiento’s livestreamed murder closely follows the killing of another influencer during a broadcast in Jalisco, Mexico. Although authorities in that case denied cartel involvement, they opened a femicide investigation.

Sarmiento’s death has sent shockwaves through Venezuela and the online community. His supporters demand justice as the government faces renewed scrutiny over its handling of organized crime and corruption.