A TikTok sensation met a tragic end, falling victim to a horrific murder, which authorities believe was committed by a man she had continuously turned down on social media.
Sana Yousaf, who celebrated her 17th birthday last week, was fatally shot at her Islamabad residence by an unwanted visitor who had been sending her persistent messages prior to showing up at her home on Monday night.
Police say the suspect entered Yousaf’s home after loitering outside. He fired shots repeatedly — killing her instantly with two direct hits.
After killing the teen, who has 1.5 million followers on the popular app, he stole her phone and fled the scene.
Cops have since arrested a 22-year-old man on suspicion of murder and have recovered the murder weapon and the social media star’s phone.
Islamabad police chief Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi told reporters that Yousaf’s death was the result of “repeated rejections.”
“The boy was trying to reach out to her time and again,” Rizvi said. “It was a gruesome and cold-blooded murder.”
Officials said that Yousaf’s murder sparked a “wave of concern” across the country, prompting “immense” pressure on police to find her killer.
The TikTok star’s heartbroken father, Syed Yousaf Hassan, told the BBC that Sana was his only daughter.
Calling her “very brave,” Syed told the outlet that his daughter had never mentioned the suspect, or any threatening behavior before her death.
According to Syed, the influencer’s aunt was present during the intrusion. The perpetrator reportedly threatened her with a firearm before making a hasty escape.
He added that Sana has since been laid to rest in Chitral, roughly 250 miles from the capital.
The teenager rose to social media fame by speaking out for women’s rights in Pakistan, earning an impressive 1.5 million following on TikTok through her videos.
Hours after her murder, a scheduled post was shared on TikTok that showed her at a recent party for her 17th birthday.
In her heartbreaking final post, she was seen eating pizza with her friends on a roof terrace before cutting a birthday cake.
