Deadly Shooting Outside Nightclub in Ecuador Claims 8 Lives
In the early hours of August 10, 2025, a shocking incident unfolded outside a nightclub named Napoles in the town of Santa Lucia, Ecuador. The peaceful night was shattered as unidentified gunmen opened fire on a crowd, resulting in eight fatalities and three injuries.
The shooting occurred at 1:15 a.m. local time. The gunmen, who arrived in two pickup trucks, managed to escape the scene, leaving behind 800 cartridge cases. The route taken by the gunmen after the attack remains unknown.
One of the victims was Jorge Urquizo, the brother of Santa Lucia's mayor, Ubaldo Urquizo. The nightclub owner was among those killed in the tragic incident.
Authorities are investigating the incident with a focus on possible gang violence links. The Guayas province, where Santa Lucia is located, has seen a sharp increase in violence, leading Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa to declare a 60-day state of emergency in several provinces, including Guayas, in an attempt to combat increasing gang violence.
The rise in homicides in Ecuador could potentially be linked to the growing presence of drug cartels. According to official statistics, Ecuador experienced a 47% increase in homicides during the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year, with a total of 4,619 homicides.
Despite the extensive investigation, the police have not identified a motive for the shooting in Santa Lucia nor made any arrests related to the incident as of the latest reports. The town, with a population of 38,000, has been left reeling from the senseless violence.
The shooting in Santa Lucia occurred in a town that is part of the Guayas province, which is currently under a two-month state of emergency declared by President Daniel Noboa to combat gang violence. As the investigation continues, the community hopes for justice and an end to the escalating violence.
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