Fernando Villavicencio death updates — Ecuadorian president Guillermo Lasso pays tribute after candidate’s assassination

Two dead, one injured after shooting

Fernando Villavicencio was shot multiple times as he left the rally at a high school in northern Quito, according to General Manuel Iñiguez of the Ecuadorian national police.

Villavicencio was then rushed to a nearby clinic, where he was pronounced dead at the age of 59.

A suspect in the candidate’s assassination died of wounds after being arrested by authorities in Ecuador, the attorney general’s office said.

General Manue Iñiguez also noted a police officer was injured in the attack.

The gunmen launched a grenade toward Villavicencio’s group, however, it didn’t explode.

Fernando Villavicencio’s political party

Fernando Villavicencio was part of the Movimiento Construye Ecuador party since 2021.

The Movimiento Construye was founded in 2004 and originally named Ruptura 25.

They joined the Democrat Left in 2016 before becoming the Movimiento Construye Ecuador party in 2020.

Prior to his most recent affiliated party, Fernando was part of the Coalition Movement from 2018 until 2021.

Fernando was vocal about political corruption

Villavicencio was a vocal critic of corruption, especially during the tenure of former President Rafael Correa from 2007 to 2017.

Villavicencio’s campaign adviser, Patricio Zuquilanda, told the Associated Press that his client had received several death threats before the shooting and reported them to the authorities.

“The Ecuadorian people are crying and Ecuador is mortally wounded,” he told the outlet. “Politics cannot lead to the death of any member of society.”

Former vice president Otto Sonnenholzner echoed Zuquilanda’s words in a news conference saying, “We are dying, drowning in a sea of tears and we do not deserve to live like this. We demand that you do something.”

Fernando survived by his family

On August 9, 2023, Fernando Villavicencio was shot dead at during his political rally in Quito.

His assassination comes weeks before Ecuador’s election day which is set to take place on August 20.

He is survived by his wife and five children.

Suspect ‘died of injuries’

A suspect in the assassination of Fernando Villavicencio reportedly died of their wounds, according to Ecuador’s attorney general’s office.

The suspect is said to have died after being arrested by authorities.

Fernando Villavicencio’s political beginnings

Fernando moved to a career in politics in 2013 when he became a parliamentary assistant to Cléver Jiménez.

On May 14, 2017, Fernando was sworn in as a member of the National Assembly and remained in his position until May 2023 when the legislative body was dissolved.

On June 10, the Ecuador native announced his candidacy for the 2023 presidential race in his home country.

He was sadly assassinated Wednesday night shortly after his presidential rally at a high school.

Fernando Villavicencio pictured

Fernando Villavicencio was shot to death by gunmen at a political rally in Quito Wednesday night, a video revealed on social media.

Fernando was a former journalist

Before entering the world of politics Villavicencio studied journalism and communication at the Cooperative University of Colombia.

He worked with one of the largest daily newspapers in Ecuador, El Universo.

During his time at the paper, he criticized Ecuadorian politician Gustavo Noboa.

President is ‘outraged and shocked’

The current president of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso, shared a statement to X in Spanish.

“Outraged and shocked by the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio,” Lasso wrote.

“My solidarity and condolences to his wife and daughters. For his memory and for his fight, I assure you that this crime will not go unpunished.

“The Security Cabinet will meet in a few minutes in Carondelet. I have asked the president of the CNE, Diana Atamaint; the State Attorney General, Diana Salazar; the President of the National Court of Justice, Iván Saquicela; and to the other State authorities to attend this meeting urgently to discuss this fact that has dismayed the country.”

He concluded: “Organized crime has gone too far, but the full weight of the law is going to fall on them.”

Fernando Villavicencio was threatened recently

The Ecuadorian presidential candidate was reportedly threatened recently, BBC reported.

Villavicencio said he and his team were threatened by the leader of a gang linked to drug trafficking, the outlet reported.

Ecuador dealing with rising crime

Much of the presidential campaign has focused on the rising crime the country has dealt with in recent years.

The country is reportedly seeing record levels of gang violence and drug trafficking.

Video shows terrifying moment

Videos from the campaign event shared on social media appear to show Fernando Villavicencio walking with his security away from the Quito high school.

After the presidential candidate gets in a car, gunshots are heard as people scream and take cover.

Officer injured during the attack

A police officer was also injured in the attack, officials confirmed.

The alleged attacker reportedly tossed a grenade toward Villavicencio but it did not explode, The Washington Post reported.

Ecuador president shares statement

The current president of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso, has shared a statement confirming Fernando Villavicencio’s death.

“I assure you that this crime will not go unpunished,” Lasso said.

“Organized crime has gone too far, but they will feel the full weight of the law.”

Rushed to hospital

The Ecuadorian candidate was rushed to a nearby clinic, where he was pronounced dead, The Washington Post reported.

Fernando Villavicencio was 59.