A gun attack at a nightclub in rural Ecuador killed eight people and injured three others. Authorities suspect the shooting is linked to organised crime.

Police Colonel Javier Chango said seven victims died at the scene, and another passed away in hospital. The incident happened in Santa Lucia, a town of 38,000 in Guayas province. President Daniel Noboa had already placed Guayas and three other provinces under a two-month state of emergency earlier this week to fight gang violence.

Attackers Arrived in Pick-up Trucks

Chango explained that the attackers came in two pick-up trucks. They opened fire on people drinking outside the Napoles nightclub around 1:15 a.m. local time (0615 GMT). After the shooting, they escaped through an “unknown route.” Police found more than 800 cartridge cases at the scene.

Victim Included Mayor’s Brother

Among those killed was nightclub owner Jorge Urquizo, who was the brother of Santa Lucia’s mayor. Investigators have not confirmed a motive. “We are open to all hypotheses; we can’t rule any out yet,” Chango told reporters.

Rising Violence in Ecuador

Ecuador has seen a surge in violent crime. In the first half of 2025, the country recorded 4,619 homicides, a 47% jump compared to the same period last year. Violence has escalated sharply since 2023, which was Ecuador’s deadliest year on record. That year saw 8,008 murders, translating to 47 killings per 100,000 people—up from just 6.7 per 100,000 in 2020, according to the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants.