Ambato Market Murder Sparks Fear Among Vendors

A merchant was fatally shot on July 24 inside a mobile‑phone stall on the second floor of the Mercado Artesanal in Ambato, Ecuador. In the days following the killing, roughly ten nearby stalls have remained closed or operate only briefly, and merchants report arriving later and leaving earlier due to heightened anxiety.

Vendors are calling for increased police presence, the reactivation of the local public security council (UPC), and a review of stall ownership. Some suspect the murder may be linked to alleged extortion targeting market traders. Police investigations are ongoing.