A popular presidential candidate was assassinated as he left a rally on Wednesday night, August 9, less than two weeks before the fiercely contested election.
Fernando Villavicencio, 59, a former right-wing journalist and anti-corruption advocate, left the rally venue at 6:20 pm local time when gunfire erupted outside a college in northern Quito, the capital of Ecuador, South America.
Footage circulating on social media shows him being escorted to a waiting car when the assailants struck. The car’s windows were not bulletproof.
Galo Valencia, Villavicencio’s uncle, confirmed that the politician had been shot in the head. Witnesses reported a barrage of bullets as the attackers opened fire.
In the chaos, one suspect was killed in a confrontation with security forces. The Attorney General revealed that nine people, including a female candidate for the National Assembly and two police officers, were injured in the crossfire.
Villavicencio, known for his tenacious stance against corruption and drug trafficking, had recently disclosed threats against him and his team from a gang leader linked to organized crime and drug trafficking. He had gained momentum in the race and was seen as a formidable contender against organized crime.
Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso confirmed the assassination and suggested organized crime’s involvement in the killing.
Following the incident, President Lasso declared a state of emergency as the nation grapples with the incident. Lasso, who was attending an event at the time of the news, assured the public that justice would prevail for Villavicencio’s memory and mission.
The late candidate, a former member of Ecuador’s National Assembly, had been polling at 7.5 percent.
The incident comes after the assassination of Agustin Intriago, the mayor of Manta, in July, and the murder of mayoral candidate Omar Menendez in February.
Villavicencio, hailing from the Andean province of Chimborazo, represented the Build Ecuador Movement and was known for his vocal criticism of corruption, particularly during former President Rafael Correa’s tenure.
Once known for its low levels of violence, Ecuador now contends with a surging homicide rate.