Overview
- Several armed men opened fire around 9 a.m. local time in a public area near the Puerto López beach, killing six people and wounding three, according to police.
- Regional police commander Colonel William Acurio said a child approximately two years old was among those killed.
- The assailants fled before officers arrived, and authorities have announced no arrests as the search and investigation continue.
- Investigators suspect the shooting stemmed from an internal dispute among organised crime groups in the area, which is a well-known whale‑watching destination.
- Local reports cite additional killings in the town over the weekend, reflecting Ecuador’s broader surge in gang‑related violence tied to drug trafficking, despite repeated states of emergency and a projected record homicide rate of about 52 per 100,000.