Thursday, August 10, 2023

Political Assassination in Ecuador


Fernando Villavicencio
-La Hora

Ecuador is in shock after yesterday's assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. It's still a fast-moving story, but 6 suspects have been arrested, and one was shot to death in an exchange of gunfire with police.

The Ecuadorian daily, La Hora, has an article on the tragic event with photos. In addition, there is a video of the assassination itself on Twitter (Noel Reports). It shows Villavicencio being escorted into his car by bodyguards and as he is seated in the back, the video goes haywire because that's when the shooting starts. There is actually nothing graphic captured on the video,

The below article from today's La Hora (Ecuador) is translated by Fousesquawk. The references to Unidad Flagrancia (Flagrancia Unit) refer to a specially-created judicial center established by the government in its fight against crime. At this time it is suspected that some drug cartel was behind the killing.

 https://www.lahora.com.ec/pais/sospechoso-muere-flagrancia-fernando-villavicencio/

One of the suspects in the assassination of Fernando Villavicencio arrived at Flagrancia in the arms of uniformed (officers)

August 10, 2023

Caption: Video clip of the moment of entry of the suspect at Flagrancia.

This newspaper (gained) access to the video of the entry of one of the suspects in the political crime. Today a judicial hearing is scheduled for the 6 arrested for the assassination.

In a video in which this newspaper (gained) access, one of the suspects in the assassination of Fernando Villavicencio, entering the Flagrancia unit, located on Patria Avenue.

This happens minutes after the attack suffered by the noted journalist and politician at Anderson School in the north of the capital.

The detained man arrives in the arms of two officers, one in police uniform, and the other in military uniform. He is laid in a row. He is still moving.

The prosecutor's office reported yesterday that the suspect was wounded in an exchange of gunfire with the candidate's personal security personnel. "He was arrested and transported badly wounded to the unit at Flagrancia in Quito", that office reported in an (online) message.

In the video, the military officer sees the suspect, who was leaning against a column of the building, on foot with his hands on his waist. Then there is a photo where  a policeman gives him CPR. However, as is already known, the attacker dies.

Caption: Moment when the suspect receives CPR from a police officer.

Judicial personnel have been working on the case since 4 am today to carry out the judicial hearing in person for the 6 detained persons from the raids (carried out) in two parts of Quito. This newspaper has learned that they are already in possession of the medical reports of Fernando Villavicencio for this procedure (DLH).

*Update: The Ecuadorian newspaper, El Universo, is reporting that according to police, all 6 suspects are Colombians.

*Update: The Colombian newspaper, El Espectador, confirms that the above suspects are all Colombians and most have police records in Colombia. They are identified by name here.


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