Guayaquil police sergeant dies after fatal shooting

Sergeant First Class Patricio Germán Ortiz Lucio passed away on September 16, 2026, after spending four days in critical condition. He sustained a gunshot wound to the head during an armed attack on September 11 in the Sergio Toral cooperative, located in the Monte Sinaí sector of Guayaquil.

The incident occurred while Ortiz Lucio, a veteran with 22 years of service, was attempting to prevent two suspects on a motorcycle from fleeing during a police procedure. Following the shooting, the officer was treated at the Monte Sinaí Hospital and later transferred to a private clinic for surgery to remove the projectile, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.

Intelligence units are investigating the organized crime group ‘Los Fatales’ as the primary suspects in the attack. In response to the incident, security forces conducted aerial and ground operations in the area, resulting in eleven arrests. Authorities seized 254 rounds of ammunition, three magazines, a motorcycle, and a radio charger during the raids. The detainees face charges including attempted murder and illicit weapons trafficking.