Police have yet to determine a motive for the shooting, but disputes between rival gangs have led to similar incidents throughout parts of Ecuador.
In the early hours of Sunday, August 10, a shooting at a nightclub in Santa Lucía in Ecuador‘s Guayas province killed eight people and left three others injured.
According to local authorities, the suspects arrived on a motorcycle and in two vehicles carrying weapons. They entered the club and opened fire for reasons that have yet to be determined by investigators.
Seven people between the ages of 20-40 died on the scene, and one other passed away in a nearby hospital. Among them was the owner of the nightclub, the brother of Santa Lucía mayor Ubaldo Urquizo.
While the motive behind the shooting remains unclear, a spate of shootings related to disputes between rival gangs with ties to multinational drug cartels has recently overshadowed much of Ecuador. Guayas is one of the most affected provinces, as are El Oro, Manabí, and Los Ríos, all of which have declared a state of emergency.
In July, nine people were shot to death in a pool hall, and 17 more were killed in a shooting in a bar one week later. All told, more than 4,600 people have been killed throughout Ecuador so far this year. In 2024, the death toll was 7,000, down from the 8,000 in 2023, a record year.
In a Facebook post, the Santa Lucía government paid its respects to Urquizo during his time of mourning. “We join with respect and solidarity with their grief, lifting our prayers that they may find strength and comfort during this difficult time,” it reads.
We here at EDM Identity express our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of those lost in the Santa Lucía nightclub shooting during what can only be a difficult time.
