Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was tragically assassinated on Wednesday during a political rally in Quito, the capital city, according to President Guillermo Lasso.
This incident is part of a disturbing surge in violence in Ecuador, with drug trafficking and violent crimes on the rise.
In a statement, President Lasso declared, “Rest assured that this heinous crime will not go unpunished. Organized crime has crossed the line, but they will face the full force of the law.”
Social media videos appear to capture the moment when the candidate exited the event with his security detail. The footage then shows Villavicencio entering a white truck, followed by a hail of gunfire.
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The 59-year-old politician represented the Build Ecuador Movement and was one of the eight candidates in the upcoming August election.
He was a staunch critic of corruption, particularly during the tenure of former President Rafael Correa from 2007 to 2017. Villavicencio filed numerous legal complaints against high-ranking members of Correa’s government.
Preliminary reports indicate that several other individuals were injured in the attack, although the exact number has not been confirmed by authorities.
Villavicencio leaves behind a wife and five children.