Ecuador police have arrested the Colombian suspects for Presidential Candidate Fernando Villavicencio's assassination.
The anti-corruption candidate and former Assembly member died Wednesday at his campaign event in Quito's capital.
Ecuador Presidential Candidate Assassination Suspects Arrested
Former Assembly member and now presidential candidate, Fernando Villavicencio, speaks to journalists upon his arrival at the Attorney General's Office in Quito on August 8, 2023.
Ecuadorian authorities have made a breakthrough in investigating the assassination of the anti-corruption presidential candidate.
As per a report by CNN, Ecuadorian police have arrested six Colombian nationals in connection with the assassination of the presidential candidate. The local authorities further disclosed that the suspected Colombian nationals are gang members.
Ecuadorian police have worked tirelessly to piece together the puzzle behind the assassination of Villavicencio. The suspects' arrest, revealed to be Colombian citizens, brings new dimensions to the case, raising questions about the motives of the killing.
According to the Associated Press News, Villavicencio is known for his strong stance against corruption and criminality. The lawmaker also vocally condemns the violence in the country, which he blames on the rampant drug trafficking. His presidential campaign heavily centered on his plans to crack down on crime and corruption amidst the raging violence in the nation.
The authorities arrested the suspect after conducting raids, and one of them died in a shootout with the police.
The Ecuador Interior Minister Juan Zapata says the Colombian suspects are members of various organized criminal groups. He says that preliminary evidence shows their links to gangs. He also confirmed that all these suspects are from Colombia.
However, the Attorney General's Office states that the gunman died in police custody. The suspected killer reportedly exchanged gunshots with security personnel.
Amid the raids, the local authorities stumbled on a machine gun, a rifle, a stolen vehicle, two rifle magazines, two motorcycles, three grenades, four pistols, and four ammunition boxes.
President Guillermo Lasso has already sought the helping hand of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to deal with the brutal killing of the former Assembly member.
Ecuador Presidential Candidate Fernando Villavicencio
As The New York Times reports, gunmen shot Villavicencio, a former journalist, killing him at a high school in Ecuador's capital where he held his campaign rally.
Among the eight candidates, the assassinated presidential aspirant is prominently known for his outspoken decry against crime and corruption, which plagued the country. The lawmaker was polling in the middle of the election race, according to The New York Times.
Ecuador's government has taken a firm stance on the violent incident, vowing to leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of truth and justice. In an official statement, President Lasso affirmed the nation's resolve to ensure that the perpetrators face the consequences of their actions.
The arrest of Colombian suspects in connection with the assassination of Villavicencio marks a crucial step forward in the pursuit of justice, but the journey is far from over.
Related Article: Ecuador Presidential Candidate Fernando Villavicencio Killed Amid Campaign Rally
