Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was tragically shot and killed just days before the upcoming election.
The 59-year-old former journalist was leaving a political rally at a school in northern Quito when multiple bullets struck him on Wednesday evening.
Disturbing images captured the chaos that ensued as terrified individuals sought cover amidst the sound of gunfire.
Video footage on social media depicted Villavicencio being escorted away by guards and entering a white truck before the shots rang out.
The harrowing scene was marked by dozens of gunshots, causing the frightened crowd to scatter and take refuge.
Further videos depicted Villavicencio on the ground and later being transported into a hospital on a stretcher.
Tragically, it was reported that he had been shot three times in the head. Despite being rushed to a nearby clinic, Villavicencio was pronounced dead, less than two weeks before the scheduled election on August 20.
Security forces engaged in crossfire with a suspect, resulting in the suspect’s death. Additionally, nine individuals, including a female candidate for the National Assembly and two police officers, were injured during the incident.
A grenade was also thrown towards Villavicencio’s group, although it failed to detonate. President Guillermo Lasso vowed that those responsible for the crime would face justice, emphasizing that organized crime would be held accountable.
Villavicencio had previously served as a member of Ecuador’s National Assembly and was a prominent contender in the first round of voting to succeed President Lasso.
Known for his anti-corruption stance, he was a vocal critic of corruption within the government and had received several death threats prior to the tragic shooting.
