Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was killed by three shots to the head Wednesday night after leaving a campaign event in Quito, the South American nation’s capital, according to local press reports.
A member of the politician’s candidate group reported that Villavicencio was getting into his car when he was shot. The death was confirmed by the current president of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso.
“I guarantee that this crime will not go unpunished,” he wrote on the social network X (formerly Twitter).
The attack has so far recorded at least nine wounded and one more dead. The attack suspect died after a shootout with security guards, authorities said.
Recent polls have shown that the victim was about 7.5% of intent votes. Elections are scheduled for August 20.
Conservative Guillermo Lasso declared a national emergency this Wednesday evening for 60 days following the assassination.
In a message to the nation after the Security Cabinet meeting, Lasso said the date for the snap general election would be kept, but military personnel would be stationed throughout the country to ensure the safety of voters.