Justin Guzman, a TikTok influencer from Houston, Texas, has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of 30-year-old Anthony Sanders. The incident occurred on June 3, 2025, inside a parking garage near the Galleria Mall on Westheimer Road around 5 p.m., according to local media reports. The Houston Police Department (HPD) responded to the scene and discovered Sanders with multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to Ben Taub General Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Court records revealed that up to 10 shots were allegedly fired by both suspects involved in the case.
Guzman turns himself in
Guzman, 22, turned himself in to authorities on Monday, June 30, 2025. He now faces murder charges alongside co-accused Marko Cinan. Both have been detained. Guzman appeared before the Probable Cause Court overnight, where the charges and allegations were formally presented.
During Justin Guzman’s court appearance, officials revealed new details about the events leading up to the fatal shooting. According to court statements, the victim’s fiancée had encountered three men in an elevator at the Galleria, where one of them allegedly insulted her. She informed Anthony Sanders, who had come to pick her up from work. Sanders then located the group and exchanged words with them. Just before 4 p.m. on Monday, Justin Guzman arrived at the police station in an Uber, accompanied by his attorney, Romy Kaplan, to turn himself in and face murder charges.
Kaplan later stated that Guzman acted in self-defense, claiming that Anthony Sanders allegedly approached him with a knife during the confrontation in the parking garage. However, initial court records indicate that Sanders was unarmed at the time of the incident. Despite this, Kaplan expressed confidence that the legal process would uncover the full truth, including key details surrounding the alleged threat.
Court officials allege that Marko Cinan, a friend of Guzman, intentionally brake-checked Sanders’ vehicle during the confrontation. As tensions escalated, both Cinan and Guzman are accused of firing multiple shots at Sanders even as they drove away from the scene.
Who is Justin Guzman?
Guzman gained popularity on TikTok through a mix of lip-syncing, dance routines, and comedy skits. Known for featuring his friends in his videos, he had built a following of over 130,000 on his primary TikTok account. After the account was banned, he created a backup handle, @guzmanhimself1, which had garnered around 52,000 followers as of July 1, 2025. Despite regular bans on his content, Guzman maintained a steady presence on TikTok and was well-liked among his followers. However, his rising online fame has now been overshadowed by the serious criminal charges against him. While Guzman had a modest but loyal fanbase, there is currently no public information available about his earnings or net worth from social media.