Brother of Ecuador drug lord ‘Fito’ killed in Santa Elena shooting

Ecuadorian authorities confirmed that David Gabriel Macías Villamar, 35, was shot dead in the early hours of 12 July 2026 in a private urbanisation in Olón, Santa Elena. He was the brother of José Adolfo Macías Villamar, alias “Fito”, the extradited leader of the Los Choneros criminal network.

Police say a group of about 20‑30 armed men, dressed in garments resembling police uniforms, forced their way past security, entered the rented house where the victim had been staying only a day, and fired repeatedly – more than 60 rounds – into his body. No arrests have been made; investigators are reviewing CCTV footage and have recovered dozens of shell‑casing fragments.

The killing follows the recent capture in Colombia of another brother, Ronald Javier Macías Villamar, and comes amid warnings that the rival gang Los Lobos may be seeking retaliation. The government has classified Los Choneros as a terrorist organization, a designation also adopted by the United States and Argentina. Security forces deployed police and military units to guard the morgue and the victim’s funeral in Manta, and the case is being handled by the Directorate of Violent Deaths in coordination with the public prosecutor.