Ecuadorian TikToker Shot Dead Live Guayaquil, Suspect Flees

TikTok influencer Keyla Andreina González Mercado was tragically shot twice in the head during a live stream at her home in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on July 26, 2025, sending shockwaves across Latin America and global social media. The prime suspect, Manuel Andrés Álava Lázaro—her friend’s boyfriend—fled the scene on a motorbike and remains at large while authorities continue their investigation. Keyla’s chilling final words, captured on the livestream, included a taunt asking to be shot twice in the head, moments before the fatal shots were fired amid a tense gathering where alcohol was consumed. The harrowing event, widely shared on social media, has provoked national outrage and calls for justice, with Keyla's family describing her as a kind and humble person and revealing that the suspect has tattoos commonly linked to gang or prison affiliations and prior convictions. The incident has renewed scrutiny on social media platform responsibilities when violent acts are broadcast live, echoing similar tragedies in the region. Ecuadorian police are actively pursuing the suspect as the community mourns the loss of the young content creator.