Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was assassinated on Wednesday while leaving a political rally in Ecuador’s capital Quito.
Less than two weeks before an election that President Guillermo Lasso claims is “racked by a surge in violent crime,” the former journalist and congressman was shot and killed as he was surrounded by supporters.
According to critics, the 59-year-old conservative politician is gaining immense popularity and was expected to win but was killed two weeks prior to the election. Villavicencio was a journalist well known for his “crusade against corruption,” according to Bloomberg. His death puts Ecuador’s unstable political environment into further uneasiness and instability.
SHOCKING VIDEO: Ecuador presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, who was leading in the polls, has just been assassinated two weeks before an election the 59-year-old was expected to win. Journalists were referring to him as "right-wing" candidate!pic.twitter.com/69wFzCK4DK
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) August 10, 2023
Police confirmed a video that circulated through social media where Villavicencio is seen stepping into a car while escorted by security before multiple gun shots went off. Nine other people were wounded, including the candidates and two police officers.
One suspect involved in the assassination was killed while in police custody from wounds sustained during the shooting according to Ecuador’s attorney general.
Roughly six suspects have been linked to the killing and were detained in raids throughout Quito.
Bloomberg also reports that in efforts to avoid impeachment, current President Lasso vowed to bring the candidate’s killers to justice. “I assure you that this crime will not go unpunished,” Lasso said in a statement. “Organized crime has gone too far, but they will feel the full weight of the law.”
Lasso added: “For his memory and his fight, I assure you that this crime will not remain unpunished.”
According to The Independent, Villavicencio alerted authorities that he received multiple death threats, including threats from affiliates of the Mexican Sinaloa Cartel – just one of dozens of organized crime groups operating in Ecuador. “Here I am showing my face. I’m not scared of them,” Villavicencio said in a statement, naming detained crime boss José Adolfo Macías by his alias “Fito.” “Our campaign proposal seriously affects these criminal structures,” Villavicencio said prior to his passing.
Fellow candidates expressed their remorse while supporters reported losing hope in the country due to the growing crime rate and gang violence.
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