Woman shot and killed while staging fake kidnap on TikTok
Areline Martinez’s friends flee the scene following the shooting
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A TikTok creator in Mexico was shot and killed while she was attempting to stage a kidnapping for a video.
Areline Martinez, 21, was shot and killed on 2 October when a gun went off during a fake kidnapping attempt.
The story was reported in Mexico News Daily, which cited the Mexican media company SIPSE.
During the staged kidnapping attempt, one of Ms Martinez's friends apparently shot her in the head. Two men fled the scene after the shooting.
Ms Martinez's previous TikTok videos featured scenes in which she is blindfolded and her hands and feet are bound, while men surround her and point guns at her head.
TikTok has since removed the videos.
The Chihuahua State Attorney General's Office said that the gun used in the killing was a .45 calibre pistol and suggested the shooting was an accident.
César Augusto Peniche Espejel, the state's attorney general, said the investigation was ongoing.
"If anyone has a criminal responsibility, he will have to answer," he said. "There are several facts to investigate: the unfortunate death of the young woman and the origin of that weapon and how it came to her hands."
Ms Martinez's body was found in a home. Many of the friends who were involved in the fake kidnapping fled the scene after the killing.
A "behind the scenes" video posted to TikTok taken before Ms Martinez was killed was used by authorities to identify the individuals who fled.
Ms Martinez was buried on Monday. She had a one-year-old son.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments