Fernando Villavicencio, a 59-year-old crusader against corruption, met a tragic end in Ecuador. The prominent Ecuadoran presidential candidate lost his life shortly after leaving a rally in the capital city on Wednesday. The incident prompted President Guillermo Lasso to swiftly declare a state of emergency, attributing the assassination to organized crime. Officials revealed that Villavicencio had previously reported receiving threats before the fatal attack occurred as he was departing a stadium in Quito following a campaign rally.
Responding to the shocking incident on X (formerly known as Twitter), President Lasso expressed his deep dismay and outrage, squarely placing blame on "organized crime" for the assassination. He vowed that the perpetrators of this crime would not escape justice, asserting, "For his memory and for his fight, I assure you that this crime will not go unpunished." In a solemn gesture of respect, the president declared three days of national mourning "to honor the memory of a patriot, Fernando Villavicencio Valencia."
President Lasso further characterized this tragic event as a "political crime" with a "terrorist character," and he expressed his conviction that the murder was intended to disrupt and sabotage the electoral process. Despite the sorrow and shock that permeated the nation, President Lasso affirmed that the upcoming general elections scheduled for August 20 would proceed as planned.
A video shared on social media captured the heart-wrenching moment of the attack. The video showed Villavicencio being shot multiple times, sustaining fatal injuries. Tragically, he succumbed to his wounds and passed away in the hospital. The attack also resulted in injuries to other individuals present at the scene.
As Ecuador grapples with this deeply distressing incident, the nation mourns the loss of Fernando Villavicencio, a valiant candidate who met a tragic end while advocating for change and progress in the political landscape.
Watch video below:
Presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was killed in Ecuador. After a campaign meeting with his voters, an unknown person started shooting. The candidate was hit three times in the head. Other people were also injured in the attack.
Villavicencio died in hospital from… pic.twitter.com/TZGK78w5Qu
— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) August 10, 2023