Thought Of Being Fireworks, Ecuadorian President Villavicencio's Candidate DIEd By 30 Shots After Campaign

Ecuadorian Presidential Candidate Fernando Villavicencio. (Wikimedia Commons/Asamblea Nacional del Ecuador)

JAKARTA - Ecuadorian Presidential Candidate Fernando Villavicencio, a vocal critic of corruption and organized crime, died as a result of being hit by gunfire after attending a campaign north of the capital Quito Wednesday evening local time.

Villavicencio was killed when he left the stadium after the campaign, with the perpetrator said he was confronting him.

Carlos Figueroa, a friend of Villavicencio's, who was with him at the time of the attack, told local media the attackers fired about 30 shots.

"They ambushed him outside the sports center. Some people (present) even thought it was fireworks," Figueroa said, citing AFP's France 24 August 10.

Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso expressed his condolences in his tweets on Twitter, ensuring this would not be left alone.

"For his memories and struggles, I assure you that these crimes will not be left alone," President Lasso tweeted.

"Ordered crimes have gone very far, but all legal burdens will be on them," he stressed.

Separately, the Attorney General's Office said a suspect in the crime later died, due to the injuries he suffered in the shootout. In addition, it said, so far six people have been arrested in connection with the incident during the raid on Quito.

Meanwhile, nine other people were injured in the attack, including a candidate running for national legislative members and two police officers, prosecutors said.

The 59-year-old centrist previously complained of receiving threats against him. He is the second most popular candidate in the presidential election on August 20, according to a recent poll.

President Lasso's government blames rising violence on the streets and in prison for criminal clashes, to control trade routes used by Mexican cartels, Albania mafia and others for drug trafficking.

Security concerns, along with work and migration, are the main voters' attention in the presidential election which will be held on August 20.

Villavicencio has pledged to fight corruption and reduce tax evasion if elected. According to polls, his support reached 7.5 percent, placing him in fifth place out of eight candidates.

Meanwhile, Villavicencio Party, Movimiento Construpye in a tweet said gunmen attacked his office in Quito in a separate incident.