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Lawyer Leonardo Toledo assassinated in Guayaquil
Lawyer Leonardo Toledo Torres was assassinated by gunfire on the morning of Tuesday, October 27, 2026, in the Sauces 2 sector of northern Guayaquil. Security footage captured the attack, showing a gunman intercepting Toledo as he approached a red pickup truck. The assailant, reportedly operating from a motorcycle, pursued and shot the lawyer multiple times before fleeing.
Prior to the attack, security videos showed individuals dressed in clothing resembling police uniforms conducting unauthorized raids on nearby homes, appearing to search for Toledo. Following a police pursuit in the Casuarina sector, authorities intercepted a stolen red vehicle. One suspect was detained, and officers recovered four firearms, including a 9mm rifle and three pistols, along with ballistic evidence and police-style clothing.
Toledo gained national prominence in 2024 as the legal representative for Mayra Salazar, a key figure in the Metástasis case involving judicial corruption and organized crime. While authorities have not confirmed a motive, his involvement in high-profile corruption investigations is noted.
Entities
Guayaquil · Leonardo Toledo Torres · Mayra Salazar · National Police of Ecuador · Policía Nacional del Ecuador · Walter Villarroel
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Security footage shows individuals in police-like clothing searching homes before the murder. www.metroecuador.com.ec
- [● 2 SOURCES] The assailant used a motorcycle to carry out the attack. centrotvecuador.com · nicopeninsula.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Police detained a suspect in a stolen red vehicle in the Casuarina sector. quenoticias.com · eluniverso.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Authorities recovered a 9mm rifle and three pistols during the arrest. eluniverso.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] Leonardo Toledo Torres was shot and killed on October 27, 2026, in Sauces 2, Guayaquil. centrotvecuador.com · nicopeninsula.com · quenoticias.com · www.metroecuador.com.ec · eluniverso.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Toledo was the legal defense for Mayra Salazar in the Metástasis case. centrotvecuador.com · nicopeninsula.com · quenoticias.com · eluniverso.com