Mayor assassinated in broad daylight as violent crime surges in South American nation

The mayor of an Ecuadorian seaside town has been assassinated as crime within the South American nation continues to spiral uncontrolled.

Agustin Intriago, the 38-year-old mayor of the Pacific coast city of Manta, Ecuador, was inspecting public works within the metropolis when he was shot useless on Sunday.

Regional police commander Edwin Noguera informed reporters a gunman obtained out of a stolen truck and opened fireplace on Intriago, hitting him and a girl described as a “collateral sufferer.” Each died of their accidents.

Security officials with the mayor returned fireplace and wounded the driving force of the automobile, who’s now in police custody whereas receiving medical consideration in hospital. Noguera mentioned the person was a Venezuelan nationwide and not using a prior legal report.

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Individuals collect across the coffin with the stays of Manta, Ecuador, Mayor Agustin Intriago, who was killed by unknown assailants over the weekend in Manta, Ecuador, Monday, July 24, 2023. Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso decreed a state of emergency in Manabi and El Oro provinces, citing the homicide of Mayor Intriago as one of many causes of the decree. (AP Photograph/Dolores Ochoa)

The suspected shooter escaped, Noguera mentioned.

Police mentioned officers had discovered a grenade within the truck and a gun which was probably used within the assault.

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Mourners cry in the course of the funeral of Manta, Ecuador, Mayor Agustin Intriago, who was killed by unknown assailants over the weekend in Manta, Ecuador, Monday, July 24, 2023. Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso decreed a state of emergency in Manabi and El Oro provinces, citing the homicide of Mayor Intriago as one of many causes of the decree. (AP Photograph/Dolores Ochoa)

It was not instantly clear why the mayor had been attacked, although police mentioned that he had reported receiving threats to authorities, with out offering extra particulars.

On Monday, Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso declared a state of emergency in three coastal provinces round Manta as violent clashes broke out on Sunday together with a number of jail riots. 

Manta, a metropolis of nicely over 200,000 individuals identified for its tuna fishing and tourism trade, has been affected by an increase in violent crime in Ecuador that features a surge of gang violence. 

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Individuals carry the coffin with the stays of Manta, Ecuador, Mayor Agustin Intriago, who was killed by unknown assailants over the weekend in Manta, Ecuador, Monday, July 24, 2023. Ecuador´s President Guillermo Lasso decreed a state of emergency in Manabi and El Oro provinces, citing the homicide of Mayor Intriago as one of many causes of the decree.

Fox Information Digital reported over the weekend that in Guayaquil, Ecuador, the nation’s largest metropolis, residents have resorted to walling themselves into their neighborhoods to guard in opposition to criminals who’re working rampant within the metropolis.

A mean of seven individuals a day had been killed in Guayaquil within the first quarter of 2023, which is double the speed throughout the identical time interval final yr, the outlet reported. Police say violence exploded following the pandemic and as drug gang wars erupted on the streets. 

Individuals bid farewell to of the Mayor of Manta, Agustin Intriago, who was killed by unknown assailants over the weekend, contained in the Lorgio Pinoargote Coliseum in Manta, Ecuador, Monday, July 24, 2023. Ecuador´s President Guillermo Lasso decreed a state of emergency in Manabi and El Oro provinces, citing the homicide of Mayor Intriago as one of many causes of the decree.  (AP Photograph/Dolores Ochoa)

Final month, residents in Guayaquil’s Nueva Kennedy neighborhood put in 17 gates round its outskirts to guard the more than 600 residents and families who dwell within the space. 

Navy guard the surface of the Guayas 1 jail a day after a battle between rival gangs left six inmates useless in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on July 24, 2023. One other 11 prisoners had been injured within the new bout of violence within the Guayas 1 jail within the port metropolis of Guayaquil in a single day Saturday into Sunday, the company that runs the jail system mentioned.  (Photograph by MARCOS PIN/AFP by way of Getty Picture)

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“Because the begin of final yr, we’ve unsuccessfully approached the police [about the crime problems]. The instances rose and rose till we had been left defenseless,” Nueva Kennedy chief Francisco Torres informed EFE.

Reuters and Fox Information Digital’s Emma Colton contributed to this report.