Ecuador teen shot dead on Balzar‑El Empalme highway

Pedro Pablo Rosado Intriago, a 17‑year‑old Ecuadorian, was killed by gunfire during an armed robbery on the Balzar‑El Empalme highway. He was traveling with his mother and other relatives from Guayaquil toward Santo Domingo when armed assailants intercepted the vehicle and opened fire as the driver attempted to reverse. One bullet struck the teenager in the chest, and despite immediate attempts to revive him, he died at the scene.

The family’s grief has been expressed at the Quevedo forensic center, where they demanded stronger security measures on the country’s roads. Their calls for increased police patrols and military presence echo broader public outrage over frequent highway banditry in Ecuador.