Ecuador Nightclub Shooting Leaves 8 Dead, 3 Injured Amid Escalating Gang Violence

QUITO, Ecuador — A late-night attack at a rural nightclub in Ecuador’s Guayas province has left eight people dead and three others injured, marking one of the deadliest mass shootings in the country this year and underscoring the ongoing wave of gang-related violence gripping the nation’s coastal regions.

Attack in Santa Lucía

Authorities say the shooting took place late Sunday in Santa Lucía, a small community in the coastal Guayas province, widely considered one of Ecuador’s most dangerous areas due to its heavy concentration of organized crime activity.

According to a statement from Ecuadorian police, seven of the victims — all between the ages of 20 and 40 — died at the scene inside the nightclub. An eighth person succumbed to their injuries later at a local hospital. The three wounded victims are receiving treatment and remain in critical condition.

Witnesses reported that the gunmen arrived in two vehicles and on motorcycles, heavily armed and wearing masks. They opened fire indiscriminately on patrons and staff before quickly fleeing. Investigators believe the shooters were part of a coordinated hit linked to local gang rivalries.

Police officials told Associated Press that no arrests have been made, and the shooters remain at large.

Violence Follows Earlier Maritime Attack

The shooting came just 48 hours after a separate violent incident in Ecuador’s El Oro province, where attackers armed with explosives targeted a boat along the southwest coast. Four people were killed in that attack, and several remain missing.

Authorities say both incidents are part of a string of high-profile attacks across Ecuador’s coastal provinces in recent months. The proximity in timing and method — involving heavily armed teams — has raised concerns that the events may be connected, though officials have not confirmed a direct link.

Ongoing State of Emergency

Ecuador has been under a state of emergency in several coastal provinces — including Guayas, El Oro, Manabí, and Los Ríos — due to escalating violence tied to drug cartels. The government has deployed military and national police forces to these regions, but attacks continue to occur despite the heightened security presence.

Security analysts say cartels and gangs have expanded their operations in Ecuador’s Pacific corridor, which serves as a critical drug smuggling route to Central America, the United States, and Europe. Rival factions have increasingly used public spaces like nightclubs, markets, and transportation hubs as venues for targeted killings, often putting civilians in harm’s way.

Cartel and Gang Involvement Suspected

Officials have not publicly named the group behind Sunday’s shooting, but experts believe it may be linked to one of the country’s most powerful gangs allied with Mexican or Colombian drug cartels.

“The scale and brazenness of this attack points to organized crime,” said one security source familiar with the investigation. “Santa Lucía has seen similar operations before, and it’s often a message between rival groups.”

The Guayas province, where the attack occurred, has long been a focal point for narco-trafficking activity, with ports, rural river routes, and fishing communities frequently used for drug shipments.

Rising Death Toll

Ecuador’s national murder rate has surged dramatically in recent years. More than 4,600 people have been killed so far in 2025, according to official statistics — a staggering figure for a country of just 18 million.

In 2024, Ecuador recorded nearly 7,000 killings, down slightly from the record-setting 8,000+ homicides in 2023. The United Nations has warned that if current trends continue, the country could surpass previous records in 2025.

Violence has also taken on more public and symbolic forms. In January, a group of armed men stormed a live television broadcast in Guayaquil, holding journalists hostage on air before being arrested.

Community Impact and Fear

Residents of Santa Lucía say they are living in fear. Many businesses now close earlier, and social gatherings have dropped sharply. Parents in the area report keeping children indoors at night, and some families have moved to other provinces in search of safety.

“It’s like living in a war zone,” said one local shop owner, who asked not to be identified for safety reasons. “You never know when the next shooting will happen.”

Local leaders are urging the government to increase patrols and set up permanent military checkpoints in Santa Lucía and surrounding towns.

Government Response

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has made tackling organized crime a top priority of his administration. Since taking office, Noboa has pushed for expanded powers for law enforcement, increased military deployment in high-crime areas, and tighter control of ports.

However, critics argue that these measures have yet to make a meaningful dent in the violence. Human rights organizations have also expressed concern over the risk of abuses by security forces operating under emergency powers.

Police are urging anyone with information about the suspects in Sunday’s nightclub shooting to contact authorities immediately.

For continued coverage on this developing story and other international crime reports, visit SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.