In the early hours of Sunday morning, police responded to reports of a shooting at the Santa Lucía nightclub, where they found seven individuals dead at the scene and an eighth victim succumbing to injuries in hospital. The identity of the attackers remains unknown, and the motive for the incident is still unclear. Among those killed was the nightclub's owner, who was the brother of Santa Lucía's mayor, Ubaldo Urquizo. The mayor's office publicly expressed condolences and solidarity during this grieving period.
This tragic event marks yet another chapter in a troubling series of violent occurrences in Guayas province, where gun violence has surged. Just a month prior, a pool hall shooting claimed nine lives, followed by another attack in a bar that resulted in 17 deaths. Despite a declared war on gang crime by Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa early in 2024 and an increased military presence meant to deter violence, the homicide rate remains high, with over 4,000 recorded between January and May 2025.
Ecuador serves as a significant transit point for global cocaine trafficking, with an estimated 70% of the world's production passing through its ports. The ongoing strife within the country emphasizes the urgent need for effective solutions to combat organized crime and restore safety to communities.
This tragic event marks yet another chapter in a troubling series of violent occurrences in Guayas province, where gun violence has surged. Just a month prior, a pool hall shooting claimed nine lives, followed by another attack in a bar that resulted in 17 deaths. Despite a declared war on gang crime by Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa early in 2024 and an increased military presence meant to deter violence, the homicide rate remains high, with over 4,000 recorded between January and May 2025.
Ecuador serves as a significant transit point for global cocaine trafficking, with an estimated 70% of the world's production passing through its ports. The ongoing strife within the country emphasizes the urgent need for effective solutions to combat organized crime and restore safety to communities.
