Mexican authorities announced the arrest of Ramón Ángel Álvarez Ayala, a senior figure in the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), in connection with the May 2025 livestreamed murder of beauty influencer Valeria Márquez and the November 2025 assassination of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo.
Key developments:
- Álvarez Ayala, also known by the alias “El R-1,” was detained during a joint military and law enforcement operation in Jalisco on June 12, 2025, following a car chase in which one of his security team members was killed.
- Mexican Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch stated that authorities allege Álvarez Ayala ordered the murder of Márquez after his son, Francisco Álvarez, requested the killing following the influencer’s breakup with him.
The alleged crime:
Márquez, a 23-year-old TikTok influencer with over 100,000 followers, was fatally shot while livestreaming from her beauty salon in Zapopan, Jalisco. According to investigators, a gunman posing as a delivery driver entered the salon, asked her to confirm her name, and then opened fire, striking her multiple times. The livestream captured the moments leading up to the attack, showing the assailant’s entry and the subsequent violence.
Official statements and charges:
García Harfuch, speaking on X (formerly Twitter), identified Álvarez Ayala as the leader of Los Rs, a CJNG-affiliated criminal cell operating in Apatzingán, Uruapan, Morelia (Michoacán), and Jalisco. The cell is accused of extortion, drug trafficking, and multiple murders, including the targeted killing of local officials and civilians.
Authorities allege that Francisco Álvarez, who had a prior romantic relationship with Márquez, contacted his father to arrange the hit after their breakup. García Harfuch stated that the son had previously threatened Márquez, and investigators believe the father complied with the request. Both the son and the unidentified gunman remain at large.
Broader implications:
The arrest follows a broader crackdown on CJNG-affiliated cells in western Mexico. In addition to Márquez’s murder, Álvarez Ayala is accused of ordering the assassination of Mayor Carlos Manzo in November 2025, an act García Harfuch described as part of the cartel’s campaign to intimidate local authorities and expand control over key regions.
Mexican federal forces continue to pursue leads in the case, including the recovery of evidence linking Los Rs to the crimes. The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities urging the public to provide tips that could assist in the apprehension of the remaining suspects.