Ariela “La Langosta” Mejia-Polanco, a popular Dominican social media influencer and New York nightlife figure, has died at 33 after being found in her car with fatal gunshot wounds, police said.
The Westchester County Police Department reported that Mejia-Polanco was discovered around 8 a.m. on August 17 in her vehicle on the eastbound Cross County Parkway near the Broad Street exit in Mount Vernon. The Westchester County Medical Examiner confirmed she died of gunshot injuries. Investigators said the preliminary evidence suggests she was “likely targeted for violence” and that her death was not random.
Detectives from the General Investigations Unit are leading the homicide probe with support from local, state, and federal agencies. Authorities said no additional details are being released while the investigation continues.
Mejia-Polanco, who had addresses in Westchester and Rockland counties, rose to prominence on Instagram, where she built a following of more than 556,000 with fashion and modeling content. Known to her followers as “La Langosta,” she also worked as a bartender at Ikon New York, a popular Manhattan lounge.
Ikon confirmed her death in a statement, calling her “a source of joy and comfort for colleagues and patrons alike.” The lounge announced it would close until August 21 in her honor. “You were our smile, our happiness. We love you and will miss you forever,” the statement read.
Her death has sparked an outpouring of grief across New York’s nightlife and online communities. Starlets of New York, a well-known Queens nightclub, described her as “a beautiful friend, loving mother, and daughter whose smile and energy lit up every room.”
Friends and fans have filled her Instagram feed with tributes, remembering her humility, resilience, and vibrant spirit. For many, Ariela “La Langosta” Mejia-Polanco was more than an influencer—she was a confidante, a friend, and a radiant presence in New York’s Dominican creative community.
Her killing remains under investigation.
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