Venezuelan police arrest suspect in TikTok influencer’s murder

Venezuelan police arrest suspect in TikTok influencer’s murder

Jesus Sarmiento was killed during a live stream after denouncing members of the Tren de Aragua gang.

Tren de Aragua AFP 300625
The Venezuelan government maintains that the Tren de Aragua gang has already been dismantled. (AFP pic)
CARACAS:
Venezuelan police have arrested an alleged accomplice in the murder of a TikTok influencer who was killed during a live stream 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 yesterday 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.

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”.

He 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 US considers a “terrorist” organisation – has already been dismantled and denies its existence.

In May, a young Mexican influencer was murdered during a live stream in Jalisco state.

Authorities said there was “no evidence” the woman had ties to organised crime and investigated the case as a femicide.

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