Venezuelan Influencer Shot Dead During Livestream Amid Corruption Probe

Gabriel Jesús Sarmiento, a Venezuelan TikTok influencer known for exposing corruption and gang activities, was fatally shot during a livestream at his home in Maracay. Sarmiento had publicly denounced criminal groups such as Tren de Aragua and Tren del Llano, as well as corrupt law enforcement officials allegedly linked to these gangs, and had received threats prior to his murder. The attack, captured in real time on social media, involved two armed men who stormed his home, shooting Sarmiento multiple times and injuring his mother. Venezuela's Attorney General Tarek William Saab has initiated an investigation, assigning Fiscalía 69 Nacional to identify and punish the perpetrators. The incident has sparked widespread outrage on social media, with demands for justice and heightened concerns over the safety of activists and influencers confronting organized crime and corruption in Venezuela. This killing echoes similar lethal attacks on social media figures in the region, highlighting ongoing risks faced by outspoken critics.