Ecuador’s youngest mayor, 27-year-old Brigitte García, was discovered shot dead on Sunday morning, as confirmed by the country’s national police.
The incident took place in a rental car where García was accompanied by her communications director, Jairo Loor, who also suffered a fatal gunshot wound.
Initial investigations indicate that the shots were fired from within the car itself, according to police reports.
Authorities are currently conducting further investigations into the matter.
The Ecuadorian Ministry of Government labeled the incident as a “criminal action” and made reference to the country’s ongoing efforts against terrorism, organized crime, and political corruption.
However, they did not attribute responsibility to any specific individual or group for the killings.
Expressing shock and disbelief, former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa lamented the loss, highlighting García’s status as the youngest mayor in the country.
He shared a photo of himself embracing García, emphasizing her role and impact.
A memorial for García is planned, with her burial scheduled for Tuesday, according to the San Vicente municipality.
The tragic event comes amid Ecuador’s struggle with increased violence attributed to armed gangs.
Earlier in January, Ecuador had declared a state of emergency following the escape of notorious gang leader José Adolfo Macías, known as ‘Fito,’ from a prison in Guayaquil.
President Daniel Noboa subsequently declared an “internal armed conflict” and authorized military operations to address the escalating violence, leading to numerous arrests within a short period.
García, a member of the left-wing Citizen Revolution Party aligned with Correa, was elected last year.
Her recent efforts included initiatives to improve access to clean drinking water in San Vicente, as evident from her social media updates and meetings with the country’s development bank regarding related projects.
Source-CNN
