The Public Ministry of Ecuador reported this Thursday (10) that six people were arrested during raids carried out in the areas of Conocoto and San Bartolo, in Quito, in connection with the murder of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio.
A suspect was killed on Wednesday (9) during an exchange of fire with the candidate’s personal security guards. He was seriously injured, he was even transferred to the Flagrantes Unit in Quinto, but he couldn’t resist.
In a statement, the Public Prosecutor’s Office said Villavicencio’s body is undergoing an autopsy. The institution added that the politician’s family members are at the scene awaiting the completion of the process.
The murder
Villavicencio was killed on Wednesday night (9) as he left a rally at Anderson College, in the city of Quito, capital of Ecuador. He was shot several times after he was already inside the car in which he was going to leave the scene.
Last week, he had denounced threats he had been receiving from a criminal faction, but said he refused to wear bulletproof vests at his rallies.
After Villavicencio’s death, the National Electoral Council (CNE) of Ecuador [órgão eleitoral máximo do país] he repudiated the crime and said that such violence tarnishes the election and democracy.
Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso also mourned the death: “Indignant and shocked by the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. My solidarity and condolences to the wife and daughters. By his memory and by his struggle, I assure you that this crime will not go unpunished”.
Source: CNN Brasil
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