Ecuadorian presidential contender Fernando Villavicencio was shot dead Wednesday by an unidentified shooter, with footage appearing to show the opposition candidate getting into a pickup truck before gunfire erupted.
Villavicencio’s assassination outside a campaign rally in the country’s capital of Quito was confirmed by President Guillermo Lasso, who alleged organized crime was behind the slaying.
“I assure you that this crime will not go unpunished,” he said in a statement. “Organized crime has gone too far, but they will feel the full weight of the law.”
The slain presidential hopeful was a married father of five was 59.
Harrowing footage posted on social media appears to show Villavicencio walking outside following the rally with at least three guards as bystanders surrounded him.
Just as he entered the backseat of the truck, multiple gunshots rang out as one guard quickly shut the door.
Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, 59, was shot and killed Wednesday by an unidentified gunman at a political rally in the capital city of Quito. REUTERSEcuador’s attorney general’s office said a suspect died of wounds after being arrested by authorities.
The alleged shooter was injured by “security personnel” and arrested, the office said. He was moved, badly injured, to the attorney general’s unit, though he was pronounced dead by a fire department ambulance at some point.
Campaign adviser Patricio Zuquilanda told the Associated Press the anti-corruption candidate received death threats before he was fatally shot. The threats were reported to police and in one instance, led to a detention.
“The Ecuadorian people are crying and Ecuador is mortally wounded,” he said. “Politics cannot lead to the death of any member of society.”
The killing comes amid a startling wave of violence with drug trafficking and violent killings on the rise. Juan Diego Montenegro
President Guillermo Lasso said, “I assure you that this crime will not go unpunished.” REUTERSSeveral other people were wounded, including officers, police said. The shooting was described as a terrorist act as cops vowed to thoroughly investigate the killing.
Photos in the aftermath show supporters running and taking cover inside a building and numerous members of law enforcement in bulletproof vests and helmets outside a hospital.
The South American country has been plagued by startling violence leading to ruthless murders, overwhelming drug trafficking and child recruitment to gangs.
Villavicencio, part of the Build Ecuador Movement, was one of eight candidates running for president in the Aug. 20 election.
He was not a leading candidate but was known for his history of denouncing corruption.
With Post wires
