Ecuador shocked by the murder
of a presidential candidate 11 days
before the presidential election.
Gunmen shot presidential candidate
Fernando Villavicencio three times in
the head in an assassination outside
a Quito high school today. At least ten people
were shot, including one gunman, who
the authorities said was killed in the
crossfire with security forces.
Villavicencio, 59, was a member of the
national assembly until it was dissolved
temporarily this year by Presidente Lasso.
He was among the leaders in polling in the
presidential race and was one of the
most outspoken critics standing up to
organized crime. He had been a journalist
and activist before being elected to
national office.
The shot and wounded include two policemen
and a candidate for national assembly.
Witnesses said there were several security
guards present at the time of the shooting.
Villavicencio was leaving a rally at Colegio
Anderson in northern Quito and entering
a vehicle when the gunmen opened fire.
Less than three weeks ago, gunmen
assassinated Mayor Intriago of the coastal
city of Manta.
Sources... The New York Times,