Suspect arrested in livestreamed murder of TikTok influencer who denounced Tren de Aragua gang in Venezuela
Venezuelan police have arrested an alleged accomplice in the murder of a TikTok influencer who was killed during a livestream after denouncing members of the Tren de Aragua criminal gang and allegedly corrupt police officers.
Jesus Sarmiento, who had more than 77,000 followers on the social media platform, was broadcasting live when armed men entered the residence where he was staying and shot him.
Attorney General Tarek William Saab announced Sunday on Instagram the arrest of Pierina Uribarri, whom he described as the partner of Adrian Romero, the alleged gunman.
Prosecutors charged Uribarri with intentional homicide, criminal association and terrorism.
Arrest warrants had been issued for Romero and two other alleged perpetrators, Wilbert Gonzalez and Gerald Nieto.
In Sarmiento's final broadcast, banging on a door and a woman's screams for "help" can be heard in the background.
"They shot me, they shot me," Sarmiento is heard saying before blood appears on the floor. Two armed men are visible before the broadcast ends.
The Venezuelan prosecutor's office said Monday it has launched an investigation into the livestreamed murder of Jesus Sarmiento, a popular TikTok user who had denounced the Tren de Aragua criminal gang and allegedly corrupt police officials.
Venezuelan prosecutor's office
Sarmiento had spoken in his TikTok posts about the leader of the Tren de Aragua gang, Hector Rusthenford Guerrero, who is one of Venezuela's most wanted criminals, known by the alias "Nino Guerrero." The U.S. State Department has offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction.
Sarmiento also posted photos and videos of alleged gang members and denounced extortion by police officers.
The government has maintained that the Tren de Aragua -- which the United States considers a "terrorist" organization -- has already been dismantled and denies its existence.
Sarmiento's murder marked the latest in a string of deadly attacks on popular social media figures around the globe.
Earlier this month, Pakistani police said 17-year-old TikTok star Sana Yousaf was shot dead by a man who had repeatedly contacted her online.
In May, the murder of a young influencer during a livestream in Mexico shocked the country. Authorities insisted there was no "evidence" that the murder of 23-year-old Valeria Márquez was linked to organized crime, and prosecutors opened an investigation for "femicide."
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