Influencer Ariela ‘La Langosta’ Gunned Down in NY — Followers Say Being with 6ix9ine Made Her a Goal

Ariela Mejia-Polanco, higher referred to as Ariela “La Langosta,” was discovered shot to demise in her black Mercedes-Benz G-Class on the eastbound Cross County Parkway in Mount Vernon, New York, on August 17. The 33-year-old Dominican influencer labored as an unique dancer, and bartender. She was found with a number of gunshot wounds earlier than the Broad Road exit.

Westchester County Police confirmed her demise as a focused murder. Due to this fact, ruling out a random act of violence. Preliminary reviews point out she was possible ambushed whereas returning dwelling from work at Manhattan’s Ikon New York lounge. Her automobile confirmed shattered home windows and visual bullet holes, proof of what investigators described as an “orchestrated assault.”

The killing has despatched shockwaves by way of each New York nightlife and hip-hop circles. Thus, fueled partially by Ariela’s extremely public connection to rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine.

Connection to Tekashi 6ix9ine

Ariela rose to prominence on social media with over 556,000 Instagram followers, sharing trend, life-style, and efficiency clips. However her notoriety reached one other degree when she appeared in 6ix9ine’s 2023 “WAPAE” music video. After that, she joined him on stage at New York’s Taboga Room.

Their relationship standing assorted in public accounts—described alternately as girlfriend, ex-girlfriend, romantic accomplice, or shut good friend. Regardless, the rapper made no effort to distance himself from her. On August 17, 6ix9ine posted a collection of tributes on Instagram Tales. Thus, calling her “my sister,” “an amazing girl,” “the queen of New York,” and writing, “NY gained’t ever be the identical. I beloved you.”

For a rapper whose profession has been outlined by gang ties, feuds, and authorized battles, the homicide of somebody in his internal circle inevitably stirred hypothesis. Some on-line voices advised Ariela could have been caught in retaliation associated to his previous, and even mistaken for him. Others pointed to her boyfriend, recognized in reviews as Nata Cartier, a suspected gang chief, as a attainable issue.

Police haven’t confirmed any connection to 6ix9ine or Cartier, and no suspects have been named.

Tributes From the Nightlife Neighborhood

Earlier than her demise, Ariela labored as a waitress and dancer at Ikon New York, a preferred Manhattan lounge. On the evening earlier than the capturing, she posted Instagram Tales from the membership. Thus, smiling with buddies and celebrating into the early hours.

The lounge briefly closed in her honor. Due to this fact, releasing a press release calling her “a shining star” identified for her humility and pleasure. Starlets of New York is one other membership the place she carried out. They remembered her as a “stunning soul and loving mom.” Ariela leaves behind two youngsters, a daughter and a son.

Her stage title, “La Langosta” (The Lobster), carried weight in Dominican and Latin nightlife communities, the place she was a fixture at golf equipment like Opus Lounge and Starlets.

The Web Reacts: Sympathy, Hypothesis, and Criticism

The primary main report of Ariela’s demise got here from @raphousetv2 on X (previously Twitter), posting a collage of her photographs alongside 6ix9ine with the caption: “6ix9ine’s ex-girlfriend Ariela La Langosta reportedly murdered final evening.” The publish went viral. In consequence, accumulating lots of of 1000’s of engagements inside hours.

Reactions on-line cut up throughout three important traces:

• Condolences and Tributes: Many customers shared heartbreak on the information, posting photographs and messages like “Relaxation in peace, stunning soul” and “Prayers up.” Cardi B additionally joined in. Due to this fact, writing “Rip Dominican fairly.”
• Hypothesis and Warnings: Others drew a direct line to 6ix9ine’s historical past, with posts like “That’s why you don’t date strolling targets” and “To be in shut proximity to him is loopy… nothing good being stated about him.”
• Criticism of 6ix9ine: A vocal group used the tragedy to spotlight the rapper’s ongoing controversies, with one viral reply studying, “This nigga don’t be within the information for nothing constructive… RIP to shawty.”

Some replies blurred the road between mourning and meme tradition, with customers sharing GIFs and jokes whereas nonetheless acknowledging the tragedy. The combination of grief, gossip, and irony displays the best way violent information travels within the social media age.

A Life within the Crossfire of Tradition and Crime

Ariela’s killing highlights each the fragility of nightlife fame and the dangers of proximity to figures like 6ix9ine, whose personal story has been outlined by violence, betrayal, and survival. In 2018, he pled responsible to racketeering and weapons costs tied to the 9 Trey Gangsta Bloods earlier than testifying in opposition to associates. That’s a transfer that earned him each safety and the enduring label of “snitch” in hip-hop tradition.

Criminology analysis has lengthy proven that people related to high-profile gang figures can face heightened dangers of violence, even when they aren’t instantly concerned in prison exercise. Whether or not Ariela’s demise was tied to 6ix9ine, her boyfriend, or different private elements stays unverified. Nevertheless, the cultural intuition to attach her destiny to the rapper underscores his repute as a lightning rod.

The Unfold of Misinformation

As with many celebrity-adjacent tragedies, Ariela’s homicide has additionally been formed by the speedy unfold of unverified claims on-line. Conflicting reviews advised motives starting from gang retaliation to mistaken identification, with out official affirmation.

A 2018 examine in Science (Vosoughi et al.) discovered that false data spreads sooner than verified information on social media—particularly when involving high-profile figures. This dynamic has been evident in Ariela’s case, the place hypothesis usually overshadowed the restricted information launched by authorities.

Conclusion

At simply 33, Ariela “La Langosta” leaves behind two youngsters, a big on-line following, and a nightlife group that has celebrated her as each entertainer and good friend. Her demise underscores how the tradition of fame, crime, and web spectacle can converge in tragic methods.

For now, Westchester County Police proceed their investigation into what they’ve confirmed was a focused killing. Till extra solutions emerge, Ariela’s reminiscence shall be outlined each by the tributes of those that beloved her and by the cultural debates her connection to 6ix9ine has reignited.